Commons Sense

House of Commons · Public Bill Committee

Local Government (Disqualification) Bill - Sitting 1

01 December 2021

Proposed by Rupa Huq Lab Ealing Central and Acton

Local GovernmentStandards & Ethics

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

At a glance

Key points

  • The Local Government (Disqualification) Bill aims to update disqualification criteria for councillors and Mayors who engage in misconduct.
  • Rupa Huq highlights a loophole where individuals convicted of sexual offences without custodial sentences remain eligible to hold elected positions.
  • Huq supports the bill to ensure all individuals on the sex offenders list are disqualified from local government roles.

Issue summary

The statement addresses a loophole in local government legislation where individuals convicted of sexual offences without custodial sentences are not automatically disqualified from holding elected positions. The statement discusses the Local Government (Disqualification) Bill and its aim to update disqualification criteria for councillors and Mayors who engage in misconduct.

Action requested

Rupa Huq is supporting the Local Government (Disqualification) Bill, which aims to close this loophole by ensuring that all individuals convicted of sexual offences and placed on the sex offenders list are disqualified from local government roles. She encourages quick discussion and support for the bill's clauses.

Key facts

  • The Bill covers Members of local authorities in England etc.
  • Clause 2 applies to Mayors of combined authorities, clause 3 to the Mayor of London and London Assembly members.
  • Clauses 4 to 6 address supplementary provisions, references to Channel Islands or Isle of Man legislation, transitional provision, extent, commencement and short title.
  • There are approximately 120,000 councillors serving all tiers of local government in England.
  • A parish councillor was placed on the sex offenders register but refused to step down after downloading indecent images of children post-election.
  • The Bill will come into force two months after it is passed and applies only to England.
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