Successful MPs in Private Members’ Bill ballot announced

Successful MPs in Private Members’ Bill ballot announced

The 20 MPs to have been drawn in this year’s Private Members Bill Ballot have been announced this morning.

The successful MPs will now introduce their chosen bills on the fifth sitting Wednesday of the session, on 15 June.

It is up to the Members themselves to decide on their bill’s topic.

The 20 MPs successful in this year’s ballot were:

Stuart C McDonald
Dan Jarvis
Greg Smith
Sir Mark Hendrick
Dr Liam Fox
Bob Blackman
Greg Clark
Dean Russell
Yasmin Qureshi
Wendy Chamberlain
Mark Jenkinson
Alex Cunningham
Henry Smith
Claire Coutinho
Wera Hobhouse
Ian Mearns
Christina Rees
Matt Hancock
Sally-Ann Hart
Stephen Metcalfe

In advance of the draw, which takes place at the start of every parliamentary session, MPs wishing to participate in the ballot entered their name against a number by email. 460 MPs entered the ballot this year.

The chairman of ways and means – Dame Eleanor Laing MP – then drew 20 numbered ballot balls before reading out the names of the successful MPs. The full draw can be watched back on Parliament TV.

13 Fridays in each Parliamentary session are allocated to debating Private Members’ Bills. In the last session, 11 ballot bills succeeded in becoming law.

Dame Eleanor Laing, said: “The Private Members’ Bill ballot is an important parliamentary tradition. Private Members’ Bills empower backbenchers to pursue changes in the law and raise awareness of issues close to their hearts.

“Last year there were 11 ballot bills which completed the legislative process. Such important legislation as the Animals (Penalty Notices) Act, the British Sign Language Act and the Down Syndrome Act were passed into law. I expect this year will be no different as a new cohort of MPs hope to the law.

“I look forward to presiding over the draw on Thursday. I wish all my colleagues the very best of luck and success in the ballot.”

Private Members’ Bills are Public Bills introduced by MPs who are not government ministers. The successful MPs from this year’s ballot will now have their chance to make their mark on the law in the current session.