Question

To ask the hon. Member for Houghton and Sunderland South, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the Answer of 20 June 2019 to Question 265547 on VE Day: Anniversaries, whether the Electoral Commission was consulted before the announcement that the Early May Bank Holiday in 2020 would be moved from Monday 4 May to Friday 8 May to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day.

The Commission was not consulted on the decision to move the Early May Bank Holiday in 2020.

It welcomes the government’s commitment to work with the electoral community to address the practical implications of this for the administration of the polls. It is currently developing guidance for Returning Officers to support them with preparing for and delivering the 2020 elections.