The Representation of the People Bill is currently progressing through Parliament and presents an important opportunity to advance issues we have been campaigning on for some time. We submitted evidence to the Committee stage and have been working closely with partner organisations in the women’s democracy sector, as well as with MPs, to highlight the need for the Bill to include provisions to improve political representation. In particular, we have been calling for Section 106 of the Equality Act 2010 to be brought into force and for the Access to Elected Office Fund for disabled candidates to be reinstated.
This page is regularly updated with the most recent developments at the top of the page.
Committee Stage 18th March 2026 – 16th April 2026
Zoe Franklin MP tabled amendments to the Representation of the People Bill to re-establish an Access to Elected Office Fund and to bring Section 106 of the Equality Act into force. The amendments were discussed during the Committee stage on 16th April and the Minister, Samantha Dixon MP, made commitments that the Government was planning to develop a new fund for disabled candidates and reiterated the commitment to commence Section 106. However, with no clear timetable in place for either measure, we will continue to campaign for progress on both issues.
During the evidence session to the Representation of the People Bill Committee on 18th March 2026 Zoe Franklin asked Jessica Garland from the Electoral Reform Society about increasing representation and Jess supported reinstating the Access to Elected Office Fund for disabled candidates and bringing Section 106 of the Equality Act into force.
Second Reading Debate 2 March 2026
During the second reading debate we were pleased to see MPs raise Section 106 and the Access to Elected Office Fund.
Liberal Democrat MP Zoe Franklin raised Section 106 and the Access to Elected Office Fund in her speech:
Labour MP Kirsteen Sullivan raised Section 106 in her speech: