Independence of the Electoral Commission

I was concerned that on the face of the Representation of the People Bill, the issue of the Independence of the Electoral Commission was not mentioned. At a meeting with the Minister I raised the issue and the Minister said she would listen.

This is part of my speech which I had to cut down at the Second Reading on Monday 2 March 2026 as the Secretary of State said he would revoke that and there would be no direction from the Government to make the Electoral Commission “have regard” to Government direction to it. 

Part 5 of the Bill: Electoral Commission Strategy and policy Statement.

As I stated in my speech in the Elections Act 2022 on 17 January 2022 this is unnecessary and is not proportionate.

A Government of any kind should not be interfering with the Electoral Commission.

There should be no direction from a Government “to have regard to” as to  what the Government of the day or any government wants.

The Government directs and the accountability is to Parliament these are confused lines of accountability and they must end.

At the time, the there was no evidence provided that this was a necessary course of action.

Committees such as the Levelling Up Housing and Local Government, the Speakers Committee and the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee (PACAC) all said there was no evidence for this change.

The Commission is accountable to Parliament through the Speakers Committee for the Electoral Commission.

At present there are 10 members, 5 appointed by Mr Speaker; 1 by the Prime Minister and there are ex officio members such as the Secretary of State for Housing and Local government and the Chair of the Select Committee and Mr Speaker. To make it neutral there could be an additional 3 more members which would perhaps reflect the changes electorally with different parties included.

I wanted to ask the Minister if she will consider a move to neutral membership of the Committee so that no one party dominates and as group Unlock Democracy have asked that there could be  3 lay members as we have on other House committees. 

So, I would ask the Minister to remove this direction and let the Electoral Commission get back its independence. 

I am delighted to say it has.

On 3 March 2026, The Guardian reported on the revocation of the Governmental strategic direction of the Electoral Commission with the following quote:

The Labour MP Valerie Vaz said she was “delighted”, adding: “A government of any kind should not be interfering with the Electoral Commission. It should get no direction from a government.”