Great Reform Act 2022

1 Amendments to the Recall of MPs Act 2015

1. The Recall of MPs Act 2015 is amended as outlined in this section.
2. In section 1, subsection (4) for the words "Committee on Standards in relation to the MP" there is substituted "Committee on Standards in relation to the MP or by any other committee empowered by the House of Commons to investigate the conduct of the MP.
3. In section 1, subsection (4) for the words "specified period of requisite length" there is inserted "specifed period of requisite length or the suspension is related to sexual misconduct".
4. In section 1, subsection (1) for the words "or third" there is inserted "third, or forth".
5. In section 1, insert new subsection (10) after subsection (9) that reads-

   (10) The forth recall condition is that an investigation by the Electoral Commission have concluded that—

   1. the MP is guilty of electoral misconduct, or
   2. the MPs party is guilty of electoral misconduct within the MPs constituency.

2 Protections against disenfranchisement

1. No person eligible to vote shall be prevented from exercising their right to vote.
2. No person shall be prevented by a court from exercising their right to vote.
3. Subsection (2) also applies to people who have had their right to vote restricted before the enactment of this Act.
4. The Secretary of State shall provide that people serving a prison sentence on the day of an election are able exercise their right as outlined in subsection (1).

3 Extension of voting rights to non-citizens

1. The right to vote shall be extended to any person permanently residing in the United Kingdom, subject to subsection (2).
2. To be eligible to vote in an election the person needs to have resided within the United Kingdom at least 30 days before polling day.
3. The Secretary of State shall be responsible for ensuring that permanent residents of the United Kingdom are registered to vote in line with the provisions of the Automatic Voter Registration Act 2021.

4 Amendments to the Honours (Prevention of Abuses) Act 1925

1. Section 1 of the Honours (Prevention of Abuses) Act 1925 shall be amended as outlined in this section.
2. Insert new subsection (3) after subsection (2) that reads-

   If any person gives, accepts, obtains, or agree to accept for themselves or for any other person, or for any purpose, the grant of a dignity or title of honour against the advice of the House of Lords Appointments Commission they shall be guilty of a misdemeanour.

3. Insert new subsection (4) after the new subsection (3) that reads -

   If any person gives, accepts, obtains, or agree to accept for themselves or for any other person, or for any purpose, any donations, loans, gifts or valuable consideration to or on the behalf of a political party as an inducement or reward for procuring, assisting, or endeavouring to procure the grant of a dignity or title of honour they shall be guilty of a misdemeanour.

5 Further enshrinement of human rights and the rights of devolved nations

1. In section 2(1) of the Parliament Act 1911, for the words "(other than a Money Bill or a Bill containing any provision to extend the maximum duration of Parliament beyond five years)" there is substituted -

   (other than-

   1. a Money Bill;
   2. a Bill containing any provision for repealing or amending, so as to limit the scope of existing provisions, this Act, the Human Rights Act 1998, the Equality Act 2010, or Section 2 and 5 of the Great Reform Act 2022;
   3. a Bill containing any provision for repealing or amending, so to limit the powers of the devolved parliaments, the Scotland Act 1998 or the Government of Wales Act 2006;
   4. a Bill containing any provision to extend the maximum duration of Parliament beyond five years)

2. No Bill containing any provision for revoking powers from devolved parliaments may proceed past second reading without a legislative consent motion being passed by that parliament.

6 Empowerment of the Electoral Commission

1. The Electoral Commission may for the purposes of uncovering electoral misconduct launch an investigation into any person, party, or organisation it believes may have broken electoral law.
2. The Electoral Commission may for the purposes of investigating electoral misconduct request documents, communication records, bank statements, or any other type of evidence that it deems necessary.
3. Any person, party, or organisation which fails to comply with a request as set out in subsection (2) without a reasonable cause commits a criminal offense.
4. A person who for the purposes of subverting a request outlined in subsection (2) destroys, alters, or in any way invalidates the authenticity or state of the evidence commits a criminal offense.
5. A person guilty of a offense under subsection (4) shall be liable on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 4 years.

7 Electoral Registration and Franchise

1. Section (1)(c) in the Representation of the People Act 1983 ("the 1983 Act") shall be amended to read:

   (c) is a citizen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland or a qualifying foreign citizen,

2. Section (2)(c) of the 1983 Act shall be amended to read:

   (c) is a citizen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland or a qualifying foreign citizen,

8 Extent, commencement, and short title

1. This Act may be cited as the Great Reform Act 2022.
2. This Act comes into force upon receiving Royal Assent.
3. This Act extends to the whole of the United Kingdom.

1 Amendments to the Recall of MPs Act 2015

1. The Recall of MPs Act 2015 is amended as outlined in this section.
2. In section 1, subsection (4) for the words "Committee on Standards in relation to the MP" there is substituted "Committee on Standards in relation to the MP or by any other committee empowered by the House of Commons to investigate the conduct of the MP.
3. In section 1, subsection (4) for the words "specified period of requisite length" there is inserted "specifed period of requisite length or the suspension is related to sexual misconduct".
4. In section 1, subsection (1) for the words "or third" there is inserted "third, or forth".
5. In section 1, insert new subsection (10) after subsection (9) that reads-

   (10) The forth recall condition is that an investigation by the Electoral Commission have concluded that—

   1. the MP is guilty of electoral misconduct, or
   2. the MPs party is guilty of electoral misconduct within the MPs constituency.

2 Protections against disenfranchisement

1. No person eligible to vote shall be prevented from exercising their right to vote.
2. No person shall be prevented by a court from exercising their right to vote.
3. Subsection (2) also applies to people who have had their right to vote restricted before the enactment of this Act.
4. The Secretary of State shall provide that people serving a prison sentence on the day of an election are able exercise their right as outlined in subsection (1).

3 Extension of voting rights to non-citizens

1. The right to vote shall be extended to any person permanently residing in the United Kingdom, subject to subsection (2).
2. To be eligible to vote in an election the person needs to have resided within the United Kingdom at least 30 days before polling day.
3. The Secretary of State shall be responsible for ensuring that permanent residents of the United Kingdom are registered to vote in line with the provisions of the Automatic Voter Registration Act 2021.

4 Amendments to the Honours (Prevention of Abuses) Act 1925

1. Section 1 of the Honours (Prevention of Abuses) Act 1925 shall be amended as outlined in this section.
2. Insert new subsection (3) after subsection (2) that reads-

   If any person gives, accepts, obtains, or agree to accept for themselves or for any other person, or for any purpose, the grant of a dignity or title of honour against the advice of the House of Lords Appointments Commission they shall be guilty of a misdemeanour.

3. Insert new subsection (4) after the new subsection (3) that reads -

   If any person gives, accepts, obtains, or agree to accept for themselves or for any other person, or for any purpose, any donations, loans, gifts or valuable consideration to or on the behalf of a political party as an inducement or reward for procuring, assisting, or endeavouring to procure the grant of a dignity or title of honour they shall be guilty of a misdemeanour.

5 Further enshrinement of human rights and the rights of devolved nations

1. In section 2(1) of the Parliament Act 1911, for the words "(other than a Money Bill or a Bill containing any provision to extend the maximum duration of Parliament beyond five years)" there is substituted -

   (other than-

   1. a Money Bill;
   2. a Bill containing any provision for repealing or amending, so as to limit the scope of existing provisions, this Act, the Human Rights Act 1998, the Equality Act 2010, or Section 2 and 5 of the Great Reform Act 2022;
   3. a Bill containing any provision for repealing or amending, so to limit the powers of the devolved parliaments, the Scotland Act 1998 or the Government of Wales Act 2006;
   4. a Bill containing any provision to extend the maximum duration of Parliament beyond five years)

2. No Bill containing any provision for revoking powers from devolved parliaments may proceed past second reading without a legislative consent motion being passed by that parliament.

6 Empowerment of the Electoral Commission

1. The Electoral Commission may for the purposes of uncovering electoral misconduct launch an investigation into any person, party, or organisation it believes may have broken electoral law.
2. The Electoral Commission may for the purposes of investigating electoral misconduct request documents, communication records, bank statements, or any other type of evidence that it deems necessary.
3. Any person, party, or organisation which fails to comply with a request as set out in subsection (2) without a reasonable cause shall be guilty of a misdemeanour.
4. A person who for the purposes of subverting a request outlined in subsection (2) destroys, alters, or in any way invalidates the authenticity or state of the evidence shall be guilty of a felony.
5. A person guilty of a felony under subsection (4) shall be liable on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 4 years.

7 Extent, commencement, and short title

1. This Act may be cited as the Great Reform Act 2022.
2. This Act comes into force upon receiving Royal Assent.
3. This Act extends to the whole of the United Kingdom.