SCHEDULES

SCHEDULE 1Amendments

Part 3Standing for election

Local authorities in England and Wales

I143

1

Section 79 of the Local Government Act 1972 (c. 70) (qualifications for election and holding office as a member of a local authority) is amended as follows.

2

In subsection (1) for “British subject” substitute “ qualifying Commonwealth citizen ”.

3

In subsection (2A) before “Commonwealth” insert “ qualifying ”.

4

After subsection (2A) insert—

2B

For the purposes of this section, a person is a qualifying Commonwealth citizen if he is a Commonwealth citizen who either—

a

is not a person who requires leave under the Immigration Act 1971 to enter or remain in the United Kingdom, or

b

is such a person but for the time being has (or is, by virtue of any enactment, to be treated as having) indefinite leave to remain within the meaning of that Act.

2C

But a person is not a qualifying Commonwealth citizen by virtue of subsection (2B)(a) if he does not require leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom by virtue only of section 8 of the Immigration Act 1971 (exceptions to requirement for leave in special cases).