Wales Bill

Debate between Simon Hart and Lord Hain

Monday 31st March 2014 Commons Chamber

[Mr Hain]

Yes, indeed. That is my exact point. I am not making a politically partisan point; I am making a democratic point. The practice clouded political accountability and denied voters their right to reject a particular candidate at the ballot box. A change made by the Government of Wales Act 2006 requiring candidates to choose whether to stand for a constituency or on the regional list put the voters back in charge. It cannot be right for losers to become winners through the back door, despite having been rejected by voters. That is an abuse of democracy.

[Simon Hart (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire) (Con)]

Surely the rejection is of the party in question. The system is there to get a little bit of equality across the parties. It is not about the individuals.

[Mr Hain]

That intervention interests me. Is the hon. Gentleman saying that whoever stands for whichever party, even if they are deeply opposed by the particular constituents whom they seek to represent, cannot be challenged because they are standing on a party label?