Reform UK forced to redraft language law that would jail NI politicians over Irish leaflets

Reform UK is being forced to rewrite a proposed law under which candidates could be jailed for publishing election leaflets in Irish after it emerged that any such bill would be illegal in Northern Ireland.

The amendment to the Representation of the People Bill, tabled by Reform deputy leader Richard Tice would make it an offence to print or publish any election material “unless the material is in the English language or the Welsh language”.

The clause states that a person convicted “in Scotland or Northern Ireland” would face “imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale or to both”.

As drafted, it would capture election material in Irish, Ulster Scots, Scottish Gaelic and Cornish.

Reform has also tabled a second amendment which would allow polling station officials to question voters on their ability to understand English or Welsh, and to set aside the ballots of those about whom they had “concerns”. The clause contains no exclusion for Northern Ireland.

It is believed the measure would breach the Good Friday Agreement and the Identity and Language Act 2022, which gave official recognition to Irish in the north.

Following earlier media reports, the party claimed the reference to Scotland and Northern Ireland was an administrative error made by Commons Table Office staff.

The bill has now been postponed, with its remaining Commons stages now expected in September.

It is understood Reform now intends to table a new amendment applying only to England and Wales if the bill returns.

An amendment limited to England and Wales would still criminalise Irish-language election material published in Britain.

SDLP Irish language spokesperson Patsy McGlone said the proposal showed Reform “knows next to nothing about this place and cares even less”.

“Anyone with even a passing understanding of the North would know that Irish is an indigenous language, spoken every day across communities and protected by law,” the Mid Ulster MLA said.

“The idea that someone could face criminal sanctions for publishing election material as Gaeilge is as absurd as it is offensive. Irish belongs to everyone who chooses to speak it and no party at Westminster should be trying to criminalise its use.

“This amendment tells us everything we need to know about Reform. It exposes a party that neither understands nor respects the unique history, identities and political agreements that shape life here in the North.”

Mr McGlone said the proposal was a stark warning about the direction of politics at Westminster, adding: “This is what a Farage future looks like for people in Northern Ireland.”

Reform UK has been approached for comment.