"The Electoral Commission is pleased that the Political Parties and Elections Bill, introduced to Parliament today (17 July), recognises our argument to strengthen the Commission by proposing wider investigative powers and a more flexible range of sanctions to use when the rules on party and election finances are broken.
“As we have said previously, we do not believe that the Government’s proposals to change the make up of the Commission can be made to work without compromising confidence in our independence.
“We will now consider carefully all aspects of the Bill relevant to the Commission’s work before setting out our response in more detail ahead of the Bill’s second reading in the Commons.”
ends/
For further information please contact
Electoral Commission press office on 020 7271 0704
email: press@electoralcommission.org.uk
outside office hours 07789 920414
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. You can view the Electoral Commission's response to the Government's White Paper on Party Finance and Expenditure in the UK, which preceded this Bill, on our website.
