REFORM UK have launched a bid to criminalise using Scots or Gaelic in election campaign materials and impose prison terms on anyone doing so.
The party has submitted an amendment to the Representation of the People Bill currently going through Westminster (though now paused while Labour switches leaders) which would make using any language except English or Welsh on campaign leaflets punishable by up to six months in prison.
It is one of four amendments to the bill tabled by Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice and backed by party MPs Lee Anderson, Sarah Pochin, Danny Kruger, Robert Jenrick, Andrew Rosindell, and Suella Braverman.
If passed, the four Reform UK amendments would:
- Criminalise using any language but English and Welsh on campaign materials in UK elections.
- Remove the right of Commonwealth citizens who are not British citizens to vote.
- Ban postal voting except for serving members of the armed forces or others who cannot physically vote in person.
- Allow election officials to require voters to vote separately, and to set aside votes from voters where there are concerns about their ability to understand the voting process or language.
Reform UK have since said that reports they wanted to criminalise the use of Gaelic and Scots were “misleading”, saying the amendment was intended only to have effect in England and Wales.
However, the Reform UK amendment contains two paragraphs making specific reference to jailing people in Scotland.
Here it is in full:
Reform UK's amendment which would criminalise Scots and Gaelic in full
To move the following Clause—“Requirement that political literature be in English or Welsh (1) RPA 1983 is amended as set out in subsection (2). (2) After section 110 (details to appear on election publications) insert—“110ZA Election publications to be in English or Welsh (1) A person shall not print or publish, or cause to be printed or published, any bill, placard, poster or printed document to which section 110(1) of this Act applies unless the material is in the English language or the Welsh language. (2) A person who commits an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction— (a) in England and Wales, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, to a fine or to both; (b) in Scotland or Northern Ireland, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale or to both. (3) In the case of a candidate or election agent, a contravention of subsection (1) is an illegal practice.”
(3) PPERA 2000 is amended as set out in subsection (4). (4) After section 143 (details to appear on election material) insert—“143ZA Election material to be in English or Welsh (1) No election material shall be published unless the material is in the English language or the Welsh language. (2) In subsection (1), “election material” has the meaning given by section 143(1) of this Act. (3) A person who contravenes subsection (1) commits an offence. (4) A person who commits an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction— (a) in England and Wales, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, to a fine or to both; (b) in Scotland or Northern Ireland, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale or to both. (5) In the case of a registered party or its officers, a contravention of subsection (1) is an illegal practice.”
Member’s explanatory statement.
This new clause would require election material to be published only in English or Welsh.
