Permitted participants are individuals or organisations that campaign for a particular outcome in a referendum.
In certain circumstances they must register with us and then comply with controls on their spending and donations under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (PPERA).
The controls do not apply to local referendums (e.g. referendums on whether to have an elected mayor in a particular town or city).
Registration with us
Where an individual or organisation plans to spend more than £10,000 on campaigning during the regulated period for a relevant referendum, it must register with us before spending more than the registration threshold.
When a referendum is called, a form will be available for registration. A responsible person must be nominated who will be legally required to ensure the campaigning organisation complies with the law. There is no fee required for an application.
Only the following types of individuals or organisations may be permitted participants:
- an individual registered on a UK electoral register or resident in the UK
- a UK-registered political party
- a UK-registered company which is incorporated in the EU and carries on business in the UK
- a UK-registered trade union
- a UK-registered building society
- a UK-registered limited liability partnership which carries on business in the UK
- a UK-registered friendly, industrial, provident or building society
- a UK-based unincorporated association of two or more people whose main office is in the UK and which carries on the majority of its activities in the UK
We maintain a register of permitted participants.
Permitted participants may apply to be designated organisations. These are the lead campaign organisations for each outcome of the referendum. Designated organisations receive public money to support their campaign. More information about applying to be a designated organisation will be published when a referendum is announced.
Spending controls for permitted participants
Registered permitted participants are still subject to spending limits but these are considerably higher than the limits for unregistered campaigners. The limits depend on where the referendum is being held.
After a referendum, each permitted participant must submit a spending return to us. We review the returns and make them public.
A summary of spending reported by permitted participants is available in the register of spending by permitted participants.
The return is due within three months of the referendum for spending up to £250,000 and within six months of the referendum for spending over £250,000. Returns of spending over £250,000 must be audited by an independent auditor.
Donation controls on permitted participants
Permitted participants may accept donations of any amount to pay for their campaign, but, as for political parties, the donation must come from a permissible donor if it is above £200 in value.
When a permitted participant receives a donation to fund its controlled spending it has 30 days to decide whether the donor is permissible. Permitted participants cannot accept donations to pay for their controlled spending from unidentifiable sources.
If, within the 30 days, the permitted participant decides the donation is impermissible, it must return it.
All donations to the permitted participant to pay for their campaign above £5,000 in value from a single source must be reported in the permitted participant’s return. Donations include cash and non-cash donations.
A permitted participant that pays for all of its campaigning from its own funds or only accepts donations under £5,000 may file a nil donation return with its spending return.
Loans to permitted participants are not currently regulated.
A summary of donations reported by permitted participants is available in the register of permitted participant donations.
When a referendum is announced, we will publish guidance for referendum campaigners.
