Representation of the People Act 1981

1981 CHAPTER 34 _cross-notes

An Act to disqualify certain persons for election to the House of Commons; to make changes in the timetable for parliamentary elections; and for connected purposes.

[2nd July 1981]

1 Disqualification of certain offenders for membership of the House of Commons. _cross-notes

A person found guilty of one or more offences (whether before or after the passing of this Act and whether in the United Kingdom or elsewhere), and sentenced or ordered to be imprisoned or detained indefinitely or for more than one year, shall be disqualified for membership of the House of Commons while detained anywhere in the British Islands or the Republic of Ireland in pursuance of the sentence or order or while unlawfully at large at a time when he would otherwise be so detained.

2 Effects of disqualification.

(1) If a person disqualified by this Act for membership of the House of Commons is elected to that House his election shall be void; and if such a person is nominated for election as a member of that House his nomination shall be void.

(2) If a member of the House of Commons becomes disqualified by this Act for membership of that House his seat shall be vacated.

3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

^F1 4 Citation.

This Act may be cited as the Representation of the People Act 1981 and shall be included among the Acts which may be cited together as the Representation of the People Acts.

SCHEDULE ^F2 . . .

in force	Provision is in force
in force*	In force only for specified purposes (for detail about the purposes see/hover footnote)
not in force	Not in force in England (may be in force in other geographies, see footnotes)
italics	Defined term
_dfn	Defined term (alternative style)
gry bckgrd	the in-force status of the provision is complex, check the footnotes

in force

Provision is in force

in force*

In force only for specified purposes (for detail about the purposes see/hover footnote)

not in force

Not in force in England (may be in force in other geographies, see footnotes)

italics

Defined term

_dfn

Defined term (alternative style)

gry bckgrd

the in-force status of the provision is complex, check the footnotes

footnote	commentary	insert/omit
C1	Act amended (N.I.) by S.I. 1986/1091 , reg. 51(6) and (N.I.) ( prosp. ) by Representation of the People Act 1985 (c. 50, SIF 42) , s. 10 , Sch. 1 para. 24 and (N.I.) by Elections (Northern Ireland) Act 1985 (c. 2, SIF 42) , s. 4
C2	Act amended (E.W.) by S.I. 1986/1081 , reg. 51(6)
C3	Act modified by Representation of the People Act 1985 (c. 50, SIF 42) , s. 20(2) ( b )
C4	Act: Electoral Administration Act 2006 (c. 22) , s. 46(1)-(4) to be construed as one with this Act (1.1.2007 for E.W.S. and 1.7.2008 for N.I.) by virtue of Electoral Administration Act 2006 (c. 22) , ss. 46(5) , 77 ; S.I 2006/3412, {art. 3}, Sch. 1 para. 14(v) (subject to art. 6 and with transitional provisions in Sch. 2); S.I. 2008/1316 , arts. 2(2) , 4(s)
C5	Act: power to modify conferred by Government of Wales Act 2006 (c. 32) , s. 4(4)(a) , the amending provision coming into force immediately after "the 2007 election" (held on 3.5.2007) subject to s. 161(4)(5) of the amending Act, which provides for certain provisions to come into force for specified purposes immediately after the end of "the initial period" (which ended with the day of the first appointment of a First Minister on 25.5.2007) - see ss. 46, 161(1)(4)(5) of the amending Act (with Sch. 11 para. 22)
C6	Act: power to modify conferred by Government of Wales Act 2006 (c. 32) , s. 13(5) , the amending provision coming into force immediately after "the 2007 election" (held on 3.5.2007) subject to s. 161(4)(5) of the amending Act, which provides for certain provisions to come into force for specified purposes immediately after the end of "the initial period" (which ended with the day of the first appointment of a First Minister on 25.5.2007) - see ss. 46, 161(1)(4)(5) of the amending Act (with Sch. 11 para. 22)
C7	Act: power to apply or incorporate (with modifications) conferred (15.9.2011) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13) , ss. 58(1)-(3) (7) , 157(3)(a)
C8	Act: power to apply or incorporate (with modifications) conferred (25.4.2012) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13) , ss. 54(2)-(5) , 157(1) ; S.I. 2012/1129 , art. 2(b)
C9	Act: power to apply (with modifications) conferred by 1998 c. 46, s. 12(4)(5) (as substituted (18.5.2017) by Scotland Act 2016 (c. 11) , ss. 4(1) , 72(4)(a) ; S.I. 2017/608 , reg. 2(1)(b) )
C10	S. 1 modified by Repatriation of Prisoners Act 1984 (c. 47, SIF 39:1) , s. 3 , Sch. para. 7
C11	S. 1 modified by Government of Wales Act 2006 (c. 32) , s. 16(3) the amending provision coming into force immediately after "the 2007 election" (held on 3.5.2007) subject to s. 161(4)(5) of the amending Act, which provides for certain provisions to come into force for specified purposes immediately after the end of "the initial period" (which ended with the day of the first appointment of a First Minister on 25.5.2007) - see ss. 46 , 161(1)(4)(5) of the amending Act (with Sch. 11 para. 22)
F1	S. 3 , Sch. repealed by Representation of the People Act 1983 (c. 2, SIF 42) , ss. 205(2) , 206 , Sch. 9 Pt. II	repealed
F2	S. 3 , Sch. repealed by Representation of the People Act 1983 (c. 2, SIF 42) , ss. 205(2) , 206 , Sch. 9 Pt. II	repealed

Representation of the People Act 1981

1981 CHAPTER 34 cross-notes

1 Disqualification of certain offenders for membership of the House of Commons. cross-notes

2 Effects of disqualification.

3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F1 4 Citation.

SCHEDULE F2 . . .

Status of changes to instrument text

1981 CHAPTER 34 _cross-notes

1 Disqualification of certain offenders for membership of the House of Commons. _cross-notes

^F1 4 Citation.

SCHEDULE ^F2 . . .