Absent Voting (Elections in Scotland and Wales) Bill

Lord Hayward Excerpts

Friday 5th September 2025 Lords Chamber

[Lord Hayward (Con)]

My Lords, I first voted in favour of Sunday opening in Pembrokeshire many years ago. I could attempt the Welsh; I think I would probably get it correct, but I fear that there are others here who might be more precise on the pronunciation. I was then a parliamentary candidate in Carmarthen—my first effort to get elected to this Palace. I might describe myself as having come a distant extra.

I echo the comments of the noble Lord in introducing his Bill; I also hope it will reach the statute book and can be fully operational in time for the important elections next year. I echo the comments of Paul Holmes in the other place that it is

“a sensible and timely move to enhance voter access and uphold the integrity of our electoral system”.—[Official Report, Commons, 4/7/25; col. 595.]

That is a good summary of the Bill.

I will make only two comments on this legislation, one addressed to the Government and the other a broader comment on the process of Private Members’ Bills. The PACAC report HC 487 says in its opening summary:

“There is a clear consensus in our evidence around the necessity and benefits of simplification and consolidation of electoral law. We are concerned that the Government do not share this view and so have called on them to make their position clear”.


I think we will hear comments from all around the Chamber today advocating that electoral law is a mess at the moment and should be substantially consolidated as soon as possible. I welcome this legislation because it is a small step in that direction.

My other comment is addressed more to the authorities of this House and the Commons. Most Members are not aware that when Private Members’ Bills from this House complete the process here, they go to the bottom of the pile of the overall process in the Commons. When Private Members’ Bills come here from the other place, they go to the top of the pile. The authorities in this House try to make sure that Private Members’ Bills have completed their stages as much as possible so that, before we start receiving legislation from the other place, there is no interruption of our efforts, but it makes it virtually impossible for Private Members’ Bills from this House to become law. I am fortunate in that I was the last Member of this place to have got a piece of legislation—an electoral law change, the Ballot Secrecy Act—on to the statute book, but it is much more difficult from this House. I encourage all the authorities involved to look at this anomaly by which we are treated disadvantageously in relation to Private Members’ legislation.

I support the Bill and hope it makes rapid progress through this House on to the statute book because, as the noble Lord said, it is important that these changes are in full operation for the elections next year.