Compatibility with the European Convention on Human Rights
94 Lord True has made a statement under section 19(1)(a) of the Human Rights Act 1998 that, in his view, the Bill’s provisions are compatible with the Convention rights.
95 The Bill engages Article 3 of Protocol 1 to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). This provides: "The High Contracting Parties undertake to hold free elections at reasonable intervals by secret ballot, under conditions which will ensure free expression of the opinion of the people in the choice of the legislature".
96 The Bill maintains the principle of equal suffrage, and the overriding factors for Boundary Commissions undertaking boundary reviews to achieve equality of electorate size and geographical size in parliamentary constituencies, all of which are currently provided for in the 1986 Act.
97 Consequently the Bill is compatible with Article 3 of Protocol 1 to the ECHR.