Guidance for Candidates and Agents at Scottish Parliament elections

Donations you have accepted

If you accept a donation over £50, you must record:

• the required details for the type of donor (please see the relevant donor type page)1
• the amount (for a monetary donation) or nature and the value of the donation (for a non-monetary donation)2
• the date on which you received the donation
• the date on which the donation was accepted3

Donations you have returned

If you receive a donation from an impermissible source, you must record these details:

• the amount (for a monetary donation) or nature and value of the donation (for a non-monetary donation)4
• the name and address of the donor (unless the donation was given anonymously)5
• if the donation was given anonymously, details of how the donation was made6
• the date you received the donation7
• the date you returned the donation8
• the action you took to return the donation (for example, the person or institution you returned it to)9

After the election

You will need to report these details in your short campaign donations return. You can find more information about the return, and when you need to submit it, in after the election.

MSPs standing for re-election

Holders of elected office such as MSPs also have donation reporting requirements separate from the candidate donation controls. Permissible donations must be registered with the Register of Interests as usual.

Impermissible donations must be reported to the Electoral Commission. If you receive an impermissible donation of over £500 towards your re-election before you officially become a candidate, this must be reported directly to us.

If you are re-standing as an MSP, you should read the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body’s dissolution guidance for more information on the use of publicly-funded offices or IT equipment for campaigning purposes:

• SPCB Guidance for members and their staff
• SPCB Guidance for members not standing