Summary 5
1 Recall 7
1.1 Recall in the House of Commons 8
2 Recall petitions initiated 11
3 Recalls not initiated 12
4 Other sanctions on the behaviour of MPs 13
4.1 Representation of the People Act 1981 13
4.2 Corrupt and illegal practices 14
4.3 House of Commons disciplinary processes 15
5 Operation of a recall petition 23
5.1 Opening a petition 23
5.2 Eligibility to sign the petition 24
5.3 Signing the petition 25
5.4 Recall campaigns 28
5.5 Termination of a petition 31
5.6 Success of a petition 31
5.7 By-elections following a successful petition 32
6 Recommendations for a review of recall 33
6.1 Committee on Standards 33
6.2 Electoral Commission and administrators’ recommendations 36
7 Should recall be extended? 41
7.1 Expanding recall provisions for MPs 41
7.2 Senedd Cymru 42
7.3 Scottish Parliament 45
7.4 Councillors 47
7.5 Mayors and police and crime commissioners 49
8 Background to the introduction of recall in the House of Commons 51
8.1 2010 General Election manifestos 51
8.2 Coalition government proposals 52
8.3 Recall of MPs Bill 2014-15 56
8.4 Previous bills 57
Annex A Recalls initiated 60
Annex B Recalls not initiated 75