This paper discusses the way that Parliament scrutinises the Government's proposals for taxation, set out in the annual Budget statement. It looks at how this procedure may be affected by the timing of a General Election, and the decision in 2017 to move the Budget from the Spring to the Autumn. It also provides some suggestions for further reading.
Documents to download
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Parliamentary election petitions (812 KB, PDF)
On 9 December 2015 the election court in Edinburgh which had heard the petition against the election of Liberal Democrat MP Alistair Carmichael at the general election in May 2015 published its judgment.
The petition was refused; the judges ruled that it had not been proven beyond reasonable doubt that Alistair Carmichael had committed an illegal practice under the provisions of the Representation of the People Act 1983.
Four constituents had brought the petition which alleged that Mr Carmichael, who was Secretary of State for Scotland in the Coalition Government, had misled voters over a memo which was leaked to the Daily Telegraph at the beginning of the election campaign.
This Briefing Paper also gives details of the election court which heard the petition concerning the election of Phil Woolas in Oldham East and Saddleworth in 2010. Phil Woolas was found guilty of the illegal practice of making a false statement about a candidate and his election was declared void.
The Paper provides information about election petitions and the procedures following the decision of an election court.
Documents to download
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Parliamentary election petitions (812 KB, PDF)
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The Coronavirus Act,which received Royal Assent on 25 March 2020, made emergency provisions in relation to the coronavirus. This briefing examines the provisions related to postponing local elections due in May 2020 until May 2021.
