Guidance for Candidates and Agents at local government elections in England

What doesn’t count as candidate spending?

  • costs that are reasonably attributable to the candidate’s disability1
  • anything (except adverts) appearing in a newspaper, periodical or on a licensed broadcast channel2
  • facilities you use because you are entitled to do so as a candidate, such as a public room for a meeting3
  • volunteer time including time spent by your staff that you do not pay them for4
  • use of someone’s main residence, provided free of charge5
  • use of someone’s personal car or other means of transport, acquired principally for that person’s personal use and provided free of charge6
  • use of someone’s computing or printing equipment acquired principally for that person’s personal use and provided free of charge7
  • reasonable expenses attributable to the protection of persons or property, for example hiring security, using a PO Box to avoid publicising a home or office address on imprints, or purchasing antivirus software for protecting campaign computers8
Last updated: 20 June 2024