Proxy voting uk parliament

This is the scheme governing the operation of proxy voting for MPs absent from the House by reason of childbirth or care of an infant or newly adopted chil and for MPs unable to attend at Westminster for medical or public health reasons related to the coronavirus pandemic. The scheme has been issued under the authority of the Speaker. MPs and Members of the Lords sit in the two Chambers of Parliament scrutinising the Government and debating legislation. Find Members of Parliament (MPs) by postcode and constituency, and Members of the House of Lords by name and party. On Tuesday January, the House of Commons voted decisively to introduce a proxy voting scheme for MPs who are new parents.

You can also apply if you are unable to attend at Westminster for medical or public health reasons related to the pandemic. What is proxy voting scheme? Can proxy votes be conducted electronically?

The arrangements for proxy voting for parental absence are still in place. On June the House agreed to extend proxy voting to Members who are “unable to attend at Westminster for medical or public health reasons related to the pandemic”. Additionally, as a result of an amendment, the Speaker may “also make provision for the exercise of a proxy vote for Members who have suffered a miscarriage”.

Before the debate, the pilot scheme was made available (excluding miscarriage, as in the original motions before the amendment was agreed). After the House’s decision, the Speaker certifiedthe first proxy vote for Tulip Siddiq. The temporary Standing Order reflects proposa. See full list on commonslibrary.

At the outset of the debate, Andrea Leadsom said that she “wanted the fullest opportunity to consider all the implications” before bringing forward a substantive motion. At the end of the debate, she concludedthat she was “minded to accept the majority of the recommendations of the Procedure Committee’s report, which provides a good basis for a pilot scheme”. She confirmed that she intended “to bring forward a substantive motion as soon as possible”. However, the debate did not take place as statements had taken almost all the time allocated for the debate. The debate was to have taken place before the Government responded to the Procedure Committee’s report on Proxy voting and parental absence, which was published on Andrea Leadsom saidthat the debate would allow.

The Procedure Committee brought forward proposals for a non-compulsory scheme for proxy voting that would require some changes to Standing Orders. It recommended that “proxy voting ought to be available to new mothers, new fathers and adoptive parents”. Eligibility would be confirmed by producing either a certificate of pregnancy or a ‘matching certificate’ from a registered adoption agency to the Speaker. The dispensation to vote by proxy would be: 2. Two weeks for the biological father of a baby, the partner of the person giving birth or the second adopter of a baby or child”. The Committee said that the new system would have to operate in a transparent way.

She thanked the Committee for its report and expressed her disappointment that the July debate did not go ahead. She stated that “The integrity of the voting system in the House of Commons must be above reproach”. Andrea Leadsom noted that because it had been given the specific objective of devising a proxy voting system for parental leave, the Committee had not considered alternative approaches – such as formalised pairing. She also raised the question of extending proxy voting to those suffering long-term illness or bereavement. She queried whether any discretion in a proxy voting system would be appropriate.

She stressed the importance of considering these issues to ensure that the House was aware of “all the implications of any potential changes”. An alternative to proxy voting is to continue the practice of pairing – two Members from opposite sides agree to be absent at the same time so that the majority in a division is not affected – either as currently, on an informal basis (overseen by whips), or in a more formalised way. Ms Swinson had been paire following the recent birth of her second son.

She would have qualified for a proxy vote if the Procedure Committee’s recommendations had been implemented. UK Parliament Parliamentary Business MPs, Lords and. The following is the list of Members currently certified as eligible for a proxy vote , and of the Members. Variation of existing pandemic proxy voting arrangements.

The provision for proxy voting in the UK dates back to James I. The Speaker has certifie under the terms of Standing Order No. Establishing proxy voting for parental absence on a permanent basis will greatly benefit parliamentary democracy in general and the House in particular. An overview of voting in the UK , including voting in person, postal and proxy voting ,. Welsh Parliament elections (and other elections when you’re 18).