01 Oct 2009
The Electoral Commission has published details of campaign expenditure by parties and organisations that each spent up to £250,000 campaigning in the European Parliamentary elections this June.
Eighteen parties spent up to £250,000 during the regulated period that ran from 5 February to polling day on 4 June. Altogether, these parties spent £792,427 on campaigning at the election.
All parties that contested the election are required to submit campaign expenditure returns to the Commission.
Political parties that spent over £250,000 at the European elections have until 4 December to submit an audited return to the Commission. The Commission will publish this information on its website in January 2010. Parties that spent up to £250,000 had to submit their returns by 4 September.
| Politicial party | Expenditure 2009 (£) | Expenditure 2004 (£) |
|---|---|---|
| Animals Count | 4,512 | Did not contest |
| Christian Party “Proclaiming Christ’s Lordship” [previously ‘Operation Christian Vote’] | 222,251 | 8,282 |
| English Democrats | 37,500 | 61,467 |
| Fair Pay Fair Trade Party | 11,040 | Did not contest |
| Mebyon Kernow – The Party for Cornwall | 13,886 | Did not contest |
| No2EU: Yes to Democracy | 118,326 | Did not contest |
| Peace Party – Non-Violence, Justice, Environment | 2,932 | 4,172 |
| Pensioners Party | 4,536 | 1,425 |
| Plaid Cymru – Party of Wales | 95,162 | 37,150 |
| Pro Democracy: Libertas.eu | 98,050 | Did not contest |
| Roman Party – Ave! | Not yet submitted | Did not contest |
| Scottish Green Party | 11,108 | 27,887 |
| Scottish National Party | 126,170 | 93,304 |
| Scottish Socialist Party | 4,733 | 22,090 |
| Socialist Labour Party | 5,354 | Did not contest |
| Socialist Party of Great Britain | 3,760 | Did not contest |
| United Kingdom First | 25,297 | Did not contest |
| Wai D [now ‘Your Decision’] | 0 | Did not contest |
| Yes 2 Europe | 7,810 | Did not contest |
| Total (£) | 792,427 |
In their returns to the Commission, parties must allocate all spending against one of eight specified categories. The table below shows total spending by category for all eighteen parties that have so far submitted spending reports.
| Category |
Expenditure |
|---|---|
| Party political broadcasts | 105,361 |
| Advertising | 175,735 |
| Unsolicited materials | 331,720 |
| Manifesto and policy documents | 6,372 |
| Market research and canvassing | 19,514 |
| Press conferences/media | 27,978 |
| Transport | 16,523 |
| Rallies and other events | 2,158 |
| Overheads and general administration | 100,123 |
In addition to spending by political parties, eight ‘third parties’ (individuals or organisations that campaign for or against particular parties, candidates or policies) reported total spending of £367,049 during the campaign. Third parties could spend up to £195,759 each across the UK during the regulated period.
This compares to three third parties that reported total spending of £309,401 at the 2004 European election.
| Third party |
Expenditure |
|---|---|
| Board of Deputies of British Jews | 35,445 |
| League Against Cruel Sports Ltd | 1,444 |
| National Union of Teachers | 25,194 |
| Public and Commercial Services Union | 74,794 |
| Searchlight Information Services Ltd | 137,409 |
| Unison - The Public Service Union | Not yet submitted |
| Unite Against Fascism | 86,987 |
| USDAW | 3,604 |
| Vote Cruelty Free | 2,172 |
| Total (£) | 367,049 |
The Commission is currently scrutinising the returns submitted by parties and third parties. Four parties two third parties submitted their spending returns late, or have failed to yet submit, and the Commission has issued them with fines.
Peter Wardle, Chief Executive of the Electoral Commission, said:
“Voters have rightly come to expect transparency in the democratic process. They now have more information than ever before about where political parties get their money from and how they spend it.
“It is important voters get this information and that’s why we’ve issued fines to those that failed to submit their return on time.”
“The figures we have published today allow voters to see how much money parties and other organisations have spent on campaigning for their votes at the European elections as well as what they spent it on.
Further details, including a breakdown of spending by category, spending in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, as well as copies of individual invoices and receipts, are available on the Electoral Commission website: www.electoralcommission.org.uk/party-finance/party-finance-analysis/campaign-expenditure-2009
ends/
For more information please contact:
Electoral Commission press office on 020 7271 0704
Out of office hours 07789 920414
Email press@electoralcommission.org.uk
Notes to editors
1. The Electoral Commission is an independent body set up by the UK Parliament. Our aim is integrity and public confidence in the UK’s democratic process. We regulate party and election finance and set standards for well-run elections.
2. The Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act (2000) introduced controls on campaign expenditure by political parties and third parties contesting European Parliamentary elections. Parties with expenditure up to and including £250,000 must deliver a report to the Commission within three months of the election. Parties with expenditure over £250,000 must deliver an audited report to the Commission within six months of the election.
3. The Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act (2000) limited the amount that parties may spend during the four months up to a European Parliamentary election. For the 2009 European Parliamentary elections, the ‘regulated period’ ran from 5 February until polling day (4 June).
4. Expenditure by political parties must be recorded against one of the following categories:
- Party political broadcasts
- Advertising
- Unsolicited materials
- Manifesto and policy documents
- Market research and canvassing
- Press conferences/media
- Transport
- Rallies and other events
- Overheads and general administration
5. Figures in this press release are rounded to the nearest £. Rounding errors may occur.
6. Third parties could spend to £195,759 across the UK. This figure is made up of four spending limits:
- England £159,750
- Scotland £18,000
- Wales £11,259
- Northern Ireland £6,750
