Backbench MPs will successful in today's (21st May 2026) Private Members' Bill ballot will have the chance to introduce new laws.
Private Members' Bills can be introduced by MPs who are not Government Ministers, often known as backbench MPs. It's up ot the MP to choose the topic of Private Members' Bills drawn in the ballot have the best chance of becoming law as they get priority for the limited amount of debating time available.
At 9am on Thursday 21st May, 20 numbered ballot balls will be drawn by the most senior Deputy Speaker, the Chairman of Ways and Means, Nusrat Ghani, with the names of the successful MPs read out.
The draw takes place in reverse order, meaning the last MP to be called will get the coveted place at the top of the ballot. Those drawn highest in the ballot have the best chance of making progress with their Bill.
It is up to the MP to decide on the Bill's topic and 13 Fridays in each Parliamentary session are usually allocated to debating these Bills.
The ballot, which takes place at the start of every Parliamentary session, is streamed live on parliamentlive.tv here.
Commenting ahead of the ballot, Rt Hon Nusrat Ghani MP, Chairman of Ways and Means, said: “The Private Members’ Bill ballot is a fantastic opportunity for MPs to bring forward new legislation and raise awareness of issues of importance to them and their constituents.
“All MPs, other than Ministers, can enter the ballot and if successful, they have an unrivalled opportunity to secure time for their proposal to be debated and potentially adopted in the House of Commons Chamber.
“In the last session of Parliament, ball number 238 was drawn in first place, enabling Kim Leadbeater to take forward her Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill. Other bills pursued by ballot winners led to many changes to the law on varied campaigns that impact our lives, including on areas such as unauthorised access to football matches, puppy smuggling and rare cancers.
“I look forward to presiding over the draw today and wish my colleagues the very best of luck and success in the ballot. This is a rare opportunity where MPs can take forward any legislation of their choosing. Watch this space.”
The MP drawn at the top of the ballot has the first choice of a Private Members' Bill Friday to debate their Bill.
The 20 MPs successful in this year’s ballot were:
- Sir Desmond Swayne, New Forest West (Conservative)
- Lauren Edwards, Rochester and Strood (Labour)
- Mike Wood, Kingswinford and South Staffordshire (Conservative)
- Andrew George, St Ives (Liberal Democrat)
- Dr Luke Evans, Hinckley and Bosworth (Conservative)
- Sir John Whittingdale, Molden (Conservative)
- Jessica Toale, Bournemouth West (Labour)
- Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst, Solihull West and Shirley (Conservative)
- Gareth Snell, Stoke-on-Trent Central (Labour)
- Lincoln Jopp, Spelthorne (Conservative)
- Patricia Ferguson, Glasgow West (Labour)
- Robert Jenrick, Newark (Reform UK)
- Damian Hinds, East Hampshire (Conservative)
- Alistair Strathern, Hitchin (Labour)
- Clive Jones, Wokingham (Liberal Democrat)
- Victoria Atkins, Louth and Horncastle (Conservative)
- Munira Wilson, Twickenham (Liberal Democrat)
- Steff Aquarone, North Norfolk (Liberal Democrat)
- Mr Paul Foster, South Ribble (Labour)
- David Pinto-Duschinsky, Hendon (Labour)
The 20 successful MPs will introduce their chosen Bills to the Commons on Wednesday 17 June.
To find out more about Private Members' Bills, please visit Parliament.uk website here.
Photo © House of Commons
