On this page you will find information on candidate spending at the 2011 elections in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland which were held on 5 May 2011.
Introduction
Candidates are subject to limits on how much they can spend prior to an election. These restrictions apply during what is known as the 'regulated period'. Details on the specific limits and regulated periods for each election are available below.
During a regulated period candidates also have to make sure that any donation they receive over £50 in value is from a permissible source.
Both the money candidates spend and the donations they receive must be recorded in a spending return. After the election spending returns are submitted to the local Returning Officer (RO). ROs must make the returns available for inspection and, on request, provide copies for a small fee.
We request returns to monitor compliance with the rules and publish headline information from them in order to increase transparency in party and election finance. Files containing this data can be found below.
National Assembly for Wales
On 19 October 2011 we published details of candidate spending at the 2011 election to the National Assembly for Wales. Please download the files below to view the spending and donation information. The data provided in these documents is based on returns submitted to us by Returning Officers.
- Detailed data on spending and donations (Excel) (updated 07/02/2012)
- Detailed data on spending and donations (CSV) (updated 07/02/2012)
Should you wish to view copies of the returns, please contact the relevant Returning Officer or local authority.
More information on 'regulated periods' and spending limits in Wales
'Regulated periods' and spending limits in Wales
In Wales the regulated period is the period between 25 March and 5 May 2011 (day of poll).
The spending limit for a constituency candidate was £7,150 plus 7p for every elector on the register if in a county constituency or 5p for every elector on the register if in a borough constituency.
For more detailed information on the legislation governing candidate spending, including details on limits for regional candidates, please use the following link: Guidance on candidate spending at elections in Wales
Northern Ireland Assembly
On 20 October 2011 we published details of candidate spending at the 2011 election to the Northern Ireland Assembly. Please download the files below to view the spending and donation information. The data provided in these documents is based on returns submitted to us by Returning Officers.
- Detailed data on spending and donations (Excel) (updated 11/01/2012)
- Detailed data on spending and donations (CSV) (updated 11/01/2012)
Should you wish to view copies of the returns, please contact the relevant Returning Officer or local authority.
More information on 'regulated periods' and spending limits in Northern Ireland
'Regulated periods' and spending limits in Northern Ireland
In Northern Ireland the regulated period ran from 25 March, when the Northern Ireland Assembly was dissolved, to polling day on 5 May 2011.
In Northern Ireland the spending limit for a constituency candidate was £7,150 plus 7p for every elector on the register if in a county constituency or 5p for every elector on the register if in a borough constituency.
The above spending limits are reduced for joint candidates. If there are two joint candidates their spending limit is reduced by a quarter. If there are three or more joint candidates their limit is reduced by a third.
For more detailed information on the legislation governing candidate spending, including details on limits for regional candidates, please use the following link: Guidance on candidate spending at elections in Northern Ireland
Scottish Parliament
On 27 October 2011 we published details of candidate spending at the 2011 election to the Scottish Parliament. Please download the files below to view the spending and donation information. The data provided in these documents is based on returns submitted to us by Returning Officers.
- Detailed data on spending and donations (Excel) (updated 27/01/2012)
- Detailed data on spending and donations (CSV) (updated 27/01/2012)
Should you wish to view copies of the returns, please contact the relevant Returning Officer or local authority.
More information on 'regulated periods' and spending limits in Scotland
'Regulated periods' and spending limits in Scotland
For the first time in Scotland there were two regulated periods:
- the ‘long campaign’ – from 6 January to 22 March 2011 (the dissolution of Parliament);
- the ‘short campaign’ – 23 March to 5 May 2011.
The long campaign was introduced in order to control spending and increase transparency for the period before the dissolution of Parliament. A similar regulated period was introduced at the 2010 UK Parliamentary general election.
Separate spending limits applied for constituency candidates in the long and short campaigns:
- long campaign - £17,500 plus 4.9p for every elector on the register if in a county constituency or 3.5p per elector in a burgh constituency
- short campaign - £7,150 plus 7p for every elector on the register if in a county constituency or 5p per elector in a burgh constituency
The short and long spending limits for individual regional candidates are the total of all the limits for constituencies in the region.
For more detailed information on the legislation governing candidate spending, including details on limits for regional candidates, please use the following link: Guidance on candidate spending at elections in Scotland
Contact us
Should you have any questions or requests, please contact the Party and Election Finance team on 020 7271 0616 or at pef@electoralcommission.org.uk.
