2021 No. 160
Local Government, England
Representation Of The People, England

The Local and Greater London Authority Elections (Coronavirus, Nomination of Candidates) (Amendment) (England) Rules 2021

Made
Laid before Parliament
Coming into force
The Minister for the Cabinet Office makes these Rules in exercise of the powers conferred by section 36(1), (2) and (2A) of the Representation of the People Act 19831 and now vested in the Minister2.
The Minister for the Cabinet Office has consulted the Electoral Commission in accordance with section 7(1) and (2)(d) of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 20003.

Citation, commencement, extent and application1.

(1)

These Rules may be cited as the Local and Greater London Authority Elections (Coronavirus, Nomination of Candidates) (Amendment) (England) Rules 2021 and come into force on 10th March 2021.

(2)

Any amendment made by these Rules has the same extent and application as the provision amended, except for the amendments made by rule 3 which apply to England only.

Expiry and savings2.

(1)

These Rules expire at the end of 28th February 2022.

(2)

Despite paragraph (1), the amendments made by rules 3 and 4 continue to have effect after that date in relation to an election where—

(a)

the notice of the election is published on or before 28th February 2022, and

(b)

the poll for that election takes place on or after that date.

Amendment of the Local Elections (Principal Areas) (England and Wales) Rules 20063.

(1)

The Local Elections (Principal Areas) (England and Wales) Rules 20064 are amended as follows.

(2)

In Schedule 2 (rules for conduct of an election of councillors of a principal area where poll is not taken together with poll at another election), in rule 6 (subscription of nomination paper)—

(a)

in paragraph (1), omit from “, and” to the end;

(b)

in paragraph (2)—

(i)

for “, seconding or assenting to” substitute “or seconding”;

(ii)

omit “or signatures (up to the required number)”.

(3)

In Schedule 3 (rules for conduct of an election of councillors of a principal area where the poll is taken together with the poll at a relevant election or referendum), in rule 6 (subscription of nomination paper)—

(a)

in paragraph (1), omit from “, and” to the end;

(b)

in paragraph (2)—

(i)

for “, seconding or assenting to” substitute “or seconding”;

(ii)

omit “or signatures (up to the required number)”.

Amendment of the Greater London Authority Elections Rules 20074.

In both Schedule 3 and Schedule 7 to the Greater London Authority Elections Rules 20075 (the mayoral election rules), in rule 7(1) (subscription of nomination papers)—

(a)

for “330” substitute “66”;

(b)

for “ten” substitute “two”.

Chloe Smith
Minister of State for the Constitution and Devolution
Cabinet Office
EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Rules)

These Rules amend the Local Elections (Principal Areas) (England and Wales) Rules 2006 (S.I. 2006/3304) and the Greater London Authority Elections Rules 2007 (S.I. 2007/3541). The amendments reduce the number of subscribing electors that are required on a candidate nomination form respectively for local elections and for the London mayoral elections. This is to reduce the amount of person to person contact that may be needed as part of the nomination process, in order to reduce the risk of exposure to and transmission of the Coronavirus.

Rule 2 provides for the expiry of these amendments at the end of 28th February 2022, except in respect of elections which have been commenced (by the issuing of the notice of election) on or before that date but where the poll for that election will take place on or after that date. The prior rules, which are amended by these rules, will apply to elections in relation to which a notice is issued after 28th February 2022.

An impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on business, charities or the public or voluntary sector is foreseen.