Electoral Commission statement on designated lead campaigner applications
Lead campaigner application information
The application period for campaigners to apply for lead campaigner status at the EU Referendum has now closed. A total of four referendum campaigners have submitted applications to become lead campaigners for both outcomes – of these one has applied to be the lead campaigner for the ‘Remain’ side, and three to be the lead campaigner for the ‘Leave’ side.
Applications were received from the following referendum campaigners to be designated as lead campaigner for either outcome:
Remain
The In Campaign Ltd (Britain Stronger in Europe)
Leave
Go Movement Ltd
Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition
Vote Leave Ltd
We do not plan to make any further updates on the process until we announce our decision.
The statutory deadline for the Electoral Commission to appoint lead campaigners is 14 April 2016, which is the day before the start of the referendum period. The referendum period is the statutory period in the run up to a referendum poll when the majority of the regulatory controls on campaigners apply, including the spending limits. The Commission will make its decision on designation of lead campaigners, as soon as practicable within the period from 1 to 14 April.
The Commission will also publish on its website information about how the decision was reached, including the application forms submitted by campaigners.
For further information contact Electoral Commission press office:
- 020 7271 0704 (Out of office hours: 07789 920 414)
- press@electoralcommission.org.uk
Extra notes
Notes to editors
- 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.
- The Electoral Commission has specific responsibilities and functions in relation to the delivery and regulation of referendums held under PPERA, which applies to any referendum Bill brought before the UK Parliament unless specifically stated otherwise. For more information see our website.
- Under the Political Parties, Elections, and Referendums Act (2000), the Commission designates lead campaigners. The Commission must apply certain statutory tests when designating lead campaign groups in the run up to the EU Referendum. Any registered campaigner can apply to the Commission to become a lead campaign group. Campaigners are assessed based on the statutory tests. The tests are:
- if there is only one applicant for an outcome, the Commission shall designate an applicant unless it is not satisfied that it adequately represents those campaigning for that outcome
- if there is more than one applicant for an outcome, the Commission shall designate whichever of the applicants appears to the Commission to represent to the greatest extent those campaigning for that outcome
- Guidance for those who wanted to apply to be a designated lead campaigner and the application are available on the Electoral Commission website here.
- The benefits of registration as a non-lead campaigner for the EU Referendum, including the spending limits for political parties are outlined in our media handbook here.