The Royal College of Psychiatrists have
welcomed the
Final Report of the Speaker's Conference on Parliamentary
Representation, which was published today (11 January
2009).
Consultant psychiatrist Dr Tony Zigmond, who
gave evidence to the Speakers Conference Committee, said:
"We are delighted that the Speaker’s
Conference has so firmly supported the need to repeal section 141
of the Mental Health Act. Taking this action would ensure that
there is no place for discrimination against mental health in
Parliament and demonstrate that someone with a mental health
problem can recover and lead an active role in political life.”
Currently, under Section 141 of the Mental
Health Act 1983, an MP automatically loses their seat in Parliament
if detained under the Act for a period of six months or more. In
contrast, there are no provisions to remove MPs suffering from
physical illnesses which stop them from carrying out their duties
and responsibilities for the same length of time.
In July 2008 a report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on
Mental Health, supported by the Royal College of Psychiatrists and
other mental health organisations, showed that one in five MPs have
some personal experience of a mental health problem. But one in 3
said work-based stigma and the expectation of a hostile reaction
from the media and public prevented them from being open about
mental health issues. The report,
Mental Health in Parliament, called for the removal of
Section 141 - a change which was backed by the majority of MPs
surveyed.
For further information, please contact Liz Fox or Deborah
Hart in the Communications Department.
Telephone: 020 7235 2351 Extensions. 6298 or 6127
Note to editors:
The recommendation that Members should not be disqualified from sitting in the House of Commons on the grounds of mental illness is one of a series of recommendations made in a new report published by the Speaker’s Conference on Parliamentary Representation on 11 January 2010.