Your constituents can object to a private bill if it would affect them directly and specially. They do this by petitioning against it.
A petition against a private bill is different from a paper petition or an e-petition. It’s a document, in a specific format, explaining a person or organisation’s objection to a bill.
The petition should set out:
- who the petitioners are
- the particular effects the bill would have on them
- what changes are needed, or why the bill should be rejected, or both
Private bills can start in the House of Commons or the House of Lords. If eligible, your constituents can petition against the bill:
- when it’s presented in the first House
- for 10 days after it goes to the second House
Dates for petitioning times are listed on the page for each bill on Bills before Parliament on Parliament’s website. Until recently, petitions had to be submitted in person, but they can now be submitted online, by post or by email. There’s a £20 administration fee for each petition.
Constituents can find out more about petitioning against a private bill by contacting the House of Commons Private Bill Office (email prbohoc@parliament.uk or phone 020 7219 3250).