The Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (PPERA) establishes a fixed legal framework for the conduct of any referendum held across the UK, or a referendum held in Scotland, Wales, England or Northern Ireland. It also applies to regional referendums within England.

Referendums

The Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (PPERA) establishes a fixed legal framework for the conduct of any referendum held across the UK, or a referendum held in Scotland, Wales, England or Northern Ireland. It also applies to regional referendums within England.

Mayoral referendums

The Local Government Act 2000 sets out a major change in the way local authorities in England and Wales are run. Most local authorities, except some of the smaller district councils, operate 'executive arrangements'.

There are three types of executive arrangement set out in the Act. Two of these involve a directly elected mayor, either Mayor and Cabinet or Mayor and Council Manager. The third involves a Leader (who is elected by Councillors) and Cabinet. The third option is what happens at Ipswich Borough Council.

Local residents can request a mayoral referendum by organising a petition signed by 5% of local government electors shown in the electoral register.

Further information on a mayoral referendum is available on the Electoral Commission website.

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Notice of verification number 2024

Other referendums

Referendums are now used by some local councils to test public opinion on local issues. These referendums are not regulated by law.