Representation of the People Act 1981

1981 CHAPTER 34

An Act to disqualify certain persons for election to the House of Commons; to make changes in the timetable for parliamentary elections; and for connected purposes.

[2nd July 1981]

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Act amended (N.I.) by S.I. 1986/1091, reg. 51(6) and (N.I.) (prosp.) by Representation of the People Act 1985 (c. 50, SIF 42), s. 10, Sch. 1 para. 24 and (N.I.) by Elections (Northern Ireland) Act 1985 (c. 2, SIF 42), s. 4

C2 Act amended (E.W.) by S.I. 1986/1081, reg. 51(6)

C3 Act modified by Representation of the People Act 1985 (c. 50, SIF 42), s. 20(2)(b)

C4 Act: Electoral Administration Act 2006 (c. 22), s. 46(1)-(4) to be construed as one with this Act (1.1.2007 for E.W.S. and 1.7.2008 for N.I.) by virtue of Electoral Administration Act 2006 (c. 22), ss. 46(5), 77; S.I 2006/3412, {art. 3}, Sch. 1 para. 14(v) (subject to art. 6 and with transitional provisions in Sch. 2); S.I. 2008/1316, arts. 2(2), 4(s)

C5 Act: power to modify conferred by Government of Wales Act 2006 (c. 32), s. 4(4)(a), the amending provision coming into force immediately after "the 2007 election" (held on 3.5.2007) subject to s. 161(4)(5) of the amending Act, which provides for certain provisions to come into force for specified purposes immediately after the end of "the initial period" (which ended with the day of the first appointment of a First Minister on 25.5.2007) - see ss. 46, 161(1)(4)(5) of the amending Act (with Sch. 11 para. 22)

C6 Act: power to modify conferred by Government of Wales Act 2006 (c. 32), s. 13(5), the amending provision coming into force immediately after "the 2007 election" (held on 3.5.2007) subject to s. 161(4)(5) of the amending Act, which provides for certain provisions to come into force for specified purposes immediately after the end of "the initial period" (which ended with the day of the first appointment of a First Minister on 25.5.2007) - see ss. 46, 161(1)(4)(5) of the amending Act (with Sch. 11 para. 22)

C7 Act: power to apply or incorporate (with modifications) conferred (15.9.2011) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), ss. 58(1)-(3)(7), 157(3)(a)

C8 Act: power to apply or incorporate (with modifications) conferred (25.4.2012) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), ss. 54(2)-(5), 157(1); S.I. 2012/1129, art. 2(b)

C9 Act: power to apply (with modifications) conferred by 1998 c. 46, s. 12(4)(5) (as substituted (18.5.2017) by Scotland Act 2016 (c. 11), ss. 4(1), 72(4)(a); S.I. 2017/608, reg. 2(1)(b))

1 Disqualification of certain offenders for membership of the House of Commons. U.K.

A person found guilty of one or more offences (whether before or after the passing of this Act and whether in the United Kingdom or elsewhere), and sentenced or ordered to be imprisoned or detained indefinitely or for more than one year, shall be disqualified for membership of the House of Commons while detained anywhere in the British Islands or the Republic of Ireland in pursuance of the sentence or order or while unlawfully at large at a time when he would otherwise be so detained.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C10 S. 1 modified by Repatriation of Prisoners Act 1984 (c. 47, SIF 39:1), s. 3, Sch. para. 7

C11 S. 1 modified by Government of Wales Act 2006 (c. 32), s. 16(3) the amending provision coming into force immediately after "the 2007 election" (held on 3.5.2007) subject to s. 161(4)(5) of the amending Act, which provides for certain provisions to come into force for specified purposes immediately after the end of "the initial period" (which ended with the day of the first appointment of a First Minister on 25.5.2007) - see ss. 46, 161(1)(4)(5) of the amending Act (with Sch. 11 para. 22)

2 Effects of disqualification. U.K.

(1) If a person disqualified by this Act for membership of the House of Commons is elected to that House his election shall be void; and if such a person is nominated for election as a member of that House his nomination shall be void.

(2) If a member of the House of Commons becomes disqualified by this Act for membership of that House his seat shall be vacated.

3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F1 U.K.

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 3, Sch. repealed by Representation of the People Act 1983 (c. 2, SIF 42), ss. 205(2), 206, Sch. 9 Pt. II

4 Citation. U.K.

This Act may be cited as the Representation of the People Act 1981 and shall be included among the Acts which may be cited together as the Representation of the People Acts.

SCHEDULE U.K. . . . F2

Textual Amendments

F2 S. 3, Sch. repealed by Representation of the People Act 1983 (c. 2, SIF 42), ss. 205(2), 206, Sch. 9 Pt. II