Alan Whitehead

Labour Party | Southampton Test

WHITEHEAD CALLS FOR WEEKEND VOTING

Dr Alan Whitehead, Member of Parliament for Southampton Test, has called on the Justice Secretary Jack Straw to introduce plans to enable voting at weekends in his latest round of constitutional reforms.

Dr Whitehead, who is a member of the House of Commons Justice Select Committee (previously the Constitutional Affairs Select Committee), raised the issue in Parliament on Tuesday March 26th, asking:

Dr. Alan Whitehead (Southampton, Test) (Lab): I welcome the range of proposals in the White Paper, particularly those that strengthen the role of Parliament. I am sure that my right hon. Friend will agree that the legitimacy of Parliament depends on how and when elections are conducted. In “The Governance of Britain” Green Paper, it was suggested that there would be consultations on weekend voting. Is it his intention that the consultations will result in the inclusion of the possibility of weekend voting in the legislation that will be brought forward?

Jack Straw, Secretary of State for Justice answered:

Mr. Straw: The answer is that we are consulting on weekend voting. There is much evidence that if voting takes place over a more extended period, turnout is likely to be higher, all other things being equal. I cannot give my hon. Friend a firm commitment that the measure will be in the Bill when it comes before Parliament in its final form, but we are looking for an early legislative opportunity, if the measure is what the public want.

Speaking after the debate, Dr Whitehead said:

“I strongly believe that we should do all we can to enable people to exercise their democratic rights. Too often work and family commitments can make it difficult to get to a polling station on a Thursday. Spreading voting out over the weekend will let more people in Southampton have a say in how their city is run.”