Absent Voting (Elections in Scotland and Wales) Bill

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth Excerpts

2nd reading
Friday 5th September 2025 Lords Chamber

[Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Con)]

My Lords, it is a great pleasure to follow my noble friend, and I agree entirely with the points that he has just made in support of my noble friend Lord Hayward on a consolidation of electoral law. It is long overdue. I declare my interest as a member of the Remuneration Board of the Welsh Senedd, which settles salaries and conditions of employment for Members of the Welsh Parliament and conditions for their staff.

We have today that rare event of a piece of legislation that everybody can support. I congratulate the noble Lord, Lord Murphy of Torfaen, on introducing it so lucidly and crisply. I have little to add, except that it is extremely important and I agree entirely with the noble and learned Lord, Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd, that we should pass this legislation expeditiously so that it can be brought into force in both Scotland and Wales ahead of the Welsh and Scottish parliamentary elections—that is desirable. In Wales, the Senedd elections are epoch-making; they are very different, so we need to encourage people to vote in them. We have multi-Member constituencies coming forward, a list system, more Members and a lower voting age, as mentioned by the noble Baroness, Lady Smith of Llanfaes. I associate myself with what she said about encouragement to vote, and I hope the Minister will perhaps say a few words about that very important topic.

I once more congratulate the noble Lord, Lord Murphy of Torfaen, on bringing this legislation through to your Lordships’ House, and I look forward to it becoming law.