Dear Constituent,

Thank you for contacting me about the Elections Bill.

I have been asked to chair the Elections Bill through its committee stage. There are strict parliamentary conventions which required the chair of a bill committee to be impartial, not to make any statement for or against the bill, and not to vote on the bill when it comes before the House of Commons.

As such, while I am happy to receive representations from constituents on the Elections Bill I am afraid I will not be able to make any statement on it or to vote on the bill itself. This is an important part of our system of parliamentary democracy and must be respected to ensure bills are given full and effective scrutiny from democratically accountable representatives.

Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.

Yours,

EDWARD LEIGH MP