Commentary on Sections Part 1: Referendums Section 6: Further referendums
41.Section 6 provides that, where an assembly referendum in a region has resulted in a ‘no’ vote, a second or subsequent assembly referendum cannot be ordered for at least another seven years.
42.Subsection (4) enables the Secretary of State to cause a local government referendum to be repeated (independently of an assembly referendum) where the result of a prior local government referendum is declared or held to be invalid by a court. Subsections (5) and (6) apply provisions in section 2 of the Act to any such repeat referendum as if it is a local government referendum ordered under section 2(2). But no further local government referendums are required to be held in a county area where the result is not invalid.
43.Subsection (7) has the effect that the Secretary of State is only required to consult the Electoral Commission on the wording of the question or explanatory material for any such repeat referendum where that wording or material differs from the first local government referendum.