Commentary on Sections Part 1: Changes in total number of United Kingdom MEPs Section 5: Orders implementing changes in the number of United Kingdom MEPs
19.Section 5 gives the Lord Chancellor the power to make an order giving effect to a change in Community law in the number of MEPs to be elected for the United Kingdom and a recommendation made by the Electoral Commission as to their distribution in the regions by altering the total number and distribution of UK MEPs. The order must be made within twelve months of the Electoral Commission’s recommendation. It can be made before the Treaty provision or other instrument making the change comes into force and before the Treaty has been specified in section 1(2) of the European Communities Act 1972, but it cannot come into force until those measures have come into force.