HC Deb 06 November 1906 vol 164 cc336-7
MR. STRANGER (Kensington, N.)

I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General whether † See Col. 122. he will consider the advisability of amending Section 2 of The Corrupt Practices Act, 1883, so as to render punishable not only acts, such as are set out in the section, which are proved to have been done with a view to compel a person to vote or abstain from voting or in consequence of his having voted or refrained from voting, but also all acts of intimidation and undue influence which are proved to have been done in consequence of or in order to prevent any lawful act or conduct on the part of any person at and in connection with an election.

SIR JOHN WALTON

The terms of Section 2 of the Corrupt Practices Act 1883 need revision. There is great difficulty in enforcing the law as it stands and there would be still greater difficulty in giving effect to more stringent provisions. It may, I think, be expected that the reprobation of enlightened public opinion will tend to check the practices to which the hon. Member refers.