Transitional provisions
16First transitional stage
(1)
The registrar shall not make any entry in the register before the end of the period of six weeks beginning with the day on which this section comes into force.
(2)
As soon as possible after the end of that period, the registrar shall determine all first stage applications for registration.
(3)
Paragraph 2(2) of Schedule 1 shall not apply to a first stage application.
(4)
An application is a “first stage application” if it is made—
(a)
before the end of the period of four weeks beginning with the day on which this section comes into force, and
(b)
by a party to which at least one Member of the House of Commons belongs at the time when the application is made.
17Second transitional stage
(1)
The registrar shall not make any entry in the register, except in pursuance of a first stage application, until the end of the period of twelve weeks beginning with the day on which this section comes into force.
(2)
As soon as possible after the end of that period the registrar shall determine all second stage applications for registration.
(3)
An application is a “second stage application” if it is made before the end of the period of ten weeks beginning with the day on which this section comes into force (and is not a first stage application).
(4)
The registrar shall not make any entry in the register except in pursuance of a first or second stage application, until he has determined all first and second stage applications.
18Transitional ground for refusal to register
(1)
The registrar shall refuse a first or second stage application by a party if—
(a)
it proposes a registered name which in his opinion would be likely to result in the party’s being confused by voters with another party, and
(b)
the other party is registered or has submitted a first or second stage application which, having considered the history of the two parties, he intends to grant.
(2)
The registrar shall refuse a request made in a party’s first or second stage application for the registration of an emblem if in his opinion it would be likely to be confused by voters with—
(a)
an emblem which is already registered for another party, or
(b)
an emblem which it would be appropriate to allow another party to register.