The Registration of Political Parties (Prohibited Words and Expressions) Order 1998

Made: 21st November 1998

Laid before Parliament: 23rd November 1998

Coming into force: 3rd December 1998

The Secretary of State in exercise of the powers conferred on him by section 3(1)(f) and (2) of the Registration of Political Parties Act 1998¹ hereby makes the following Order:–

1

• (1) This Order may be cited as the Registration of Political Parties (Prohibited Words and Expressions) Order 1998.

• (2) This Order shall come into force on 3rd December 1998.

2

• (1) Subject to paragraph (2), the registered name of a party shall not include any word or expression which is listed in any Part of the Schedule to this Order.

• (2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to a word or expression listed in–

• (a) Part I of the Schedule where it forms part of the name of a place, institution or local government area;

• (b) Part II of the Schedule where it is qualified by another word or expression other than the registered name of a registered party;

• (c) Part III of the Schedule where it is qualified by another word or expression other than–

• (i) the registered name of a registered party;

• (ii) a word listed in that Part, or

• (iii) the word “party”;

• (d) Part IV of the Schedule where it is qualified by the name of a local government or geographical area.

• (3) In paragraph (2)(b), the reference to another word or expression includes another word or expression listed in Part II of the Schedule or the word “party”.

• (4) In paragraph (2)(b) and (2)(c)(i), “registered name of a registered party” includes, during the first and second transitional stages, the name of a party which has submitted a first or second stage application which the registrar intends to grant.

• (5) In this article, any reference to a word or expression listed in any Part of the Schedule to this Order includes a reference to a word or expression which translates a word or expression so listed into a language other than English.

SCHEDULE — WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS WHICH MAY NOT BE INCLUDED IN THE REGISTERED NAME OF A PARTY EXCEPT WHERE ARTICLE 2(2) APPLIES

PART I — WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS WHICH MAY ONLY BE SO INCLUDED WHERE ARTICLE 2(2)(a) APPLIES

• Duke

• Duchess

• Her Majesty

• His Majesty

• King

• Prince

• Princess

• Queen

• Royal

• Royalty

PART II — WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS WHICH MAY ONLY BE SO INCLUDED WHERE ARTICLE 2(2)(b) APPLIES

• Britain

• British

• England

• English

• National

• Scotland

• Scots

• Scottish

• United Kingdom

• Wales

• Welsh

PART III — WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS WHICH MAY ONLY BE SO INCLUDED WHERE ARTICLE 2(2)(c) APPLIES

• Independent

• Official

• Unofficial

PART IV — WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS WHICH MAY ONLY BE SO INCLUDED WHERE ARTICLE 2(2)(d) APPLIES

• Ratepayers

• Residents

• Tenants

Signed

George Howarth — Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State — 21st November 1998

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Order)

Under section 3(1) of the Registration of Political Parties Act 1998 the registrar of political parties must grant an application by a party for registration unless, in his opinion, it proposes a registered name which falls within paragraphs (a) to (f) of that provision. Paragraph (f) refers to the inclusion of any word or expression prohibited by an order under that provision.

Parts I to IV of the Schedule to this Order list words and expressions for the purposes of section 3(1)(f). However, the words and expressions listed in Parts I, II, III and IV may be used in the circumstances specified in paragraphs (a), (b), (c) and (d) of article 2(2), respectively.

Footnotes