The Sex Discrimination (Election Candidates) Act 2002 (c.2) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The purpose of the Act was to exempt the selection of candidates in parliamentary elections from the provisions in the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 and the Sex Discrimination (Northern Ireland) Order 1976 that outlaw sexual discrimination. The purpose of the Act allow political parties to select candidates based on gender to increase the representation of women in British politics.
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| Long title | An Act to exclude from the operation of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 and the Sex Discrimination (Northern Ireland) Order 1976 certain matters relating to the selection of candidates by political parties. |
|---|---|
| Citation | 2002 c.2 |
| Introduced by | Stephen Byers, Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions[1] (Commons) |
| Territorial extent | England and Wales; Scotland; Northern Ireland |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 26 February 2002 |
| Commencement | 26 February 2002 |
| Other legislation | |
| Relates to | Sex Discrimination Act 1975 |
Status: Current legislation | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
| Text of the Sex Discrimination (Election Candidates) Act 2002 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk. | |
The Act applies to elections to:
- the House of Commons;
- the Scottish Parliament;
- Senedd Cymru – the Welsh Parliament;
- the Northern Ireland Assembly;
- Local Government Elections (including the London Assembly); and
- Until 2019, the European Parliament.
The Act does not apply to selection of candidates for the Mayor of London elections. Only political parties registered under Part 2 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 are covered by the Act.
The Act was originally scheduled to run until the end of 2015. A statutory order to extend the deadline may be made if a draft has been laid before, and approved by resolution of, each House of Parliament. On 6 March 2008, Minister for Women Harriet Harman announced that the exemption would be extended until 2030 under the Equality Act 2010.[2][3]
The Labour Party has used the law to operate all-women shortlists, which were previously illegal under the Sex Discrimination Act 1975.
References
edit- ^ "Hansard, 24 Oct 2001 : Column 328". Archived from the original on 5 June 2011.
- ^ "Hansard, 6 Mar 2008 : Column 1932". Archived from the original on 5 June 2011.
- ^ "Equality Act 2010 - section 105(3)". Act of Parliament. 2010. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
External links
edit- The Sex Discrimination (Election Candidates) Act 2002.
- The Sex Discrimination (Election Candidates) Act 2002, as originally enacted, from the Office of Public Sector Information.
- The Sex Discrimination (Election Candidates) Bill (PDF). House of Commons Library. 22 October 2001. ISBN 0-10-403202-2. Research Paper 01/75. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 November 2006. Retrieved 23 June 2009.
- Richard Kelly and Isobel White (29 April 2009). All-women shortlists (PDF). House of Commons Library. SN/PC/05057. Retrieved 23 June 2009.