Campaign spending of £250,000 or less at 2021 Scottish Parliament election

The Electoral Commission has today published the campaign spending returns of political parties and non-party campaigners that spent £250,000 or less campaigning at the 2021 Scottish Parliament election. 

Nineteen parties reported spending £250,000 or less on campaigning during the regulated period which ran from 6 January 2021 to polling day on 6 May 2021. Altogether these parties reported spending of £623,476 on campaigning at the poll.

Seven registered non-party campaigners reported spending £250,000 or less on campaigning during the regulated period, totalling £260,220. 

Louise Edwards, Director of Regulation at the Electoral Commission said:
“The publication of campaign spending information relating to this year’s Scottish Parliament election is an important part of delivering transparency, which is essential to our democratic process. It is vital that voters are able to see clearly and accurately how money is spent on influencing them at elections.”

The ten highest-spending parties that reported spending of £250,000 or less at the Scottish Parliament election 2021

Party

Expenditure

Scottish Green Party

£231,902.48

Alba Party

£214,371.00

Reform UK

£54,504.15

Scottish Family Party

£32,908.11

All for Unity

£29,620.03

Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition

£13,753.40

The Reclaim Party

£10,199.37

UK Independence Party (UKIP)

£8,229.98

Freedom Alliance- Integrity, Society, Economy

£7,387.30

Communist Party of Britain

£6,419.51


Two parties spent £250,000 or less and did not submit returns by the due date. These are being considered in line with our Enforcement Policy.Full details of reported party spending are available on our website.

Political parties that spent over £250,000 campaigning at the 2021 Scottish Parliament election have until 6 November 2021 to submit their audited campaign spending returns.

Non-party campaigners that reported spending of £250,000 or less at the 2021 Scottish parliament election

 

Non-party campaigner

Expenditure

Scotland Matters

 £56,265

Dignity and Choice in Dying

 £44,044

Majority Media Ltd.

 £36,399

Scotland In Union

 £35,424

SB Supports the Union Limited

 £34,444

Mr Brian Monteith

 £33,673

Young Unionists

 £19,971

Two non-party campaigners did not submit spending returns by the due date. These are being considered in line with our Enforcement Policy.

Non-party campaigners were also required to report their donations along with their spending. In total non-party campaigners reported receiving £164,471 in donations. The donations over £7,500 in relation to non-party campaigners’ political activity have also been published today.

Ends

For more information contact the Electoral Commission press office on 0131 225 0211, out of office hours 07789 920 414 or [email protected]

 

1. The Electoral Commission is the independent body which oversees elections and regulates political finance in the UK. We work to promote public confidence in the democratic process and ensure its integrity by:

  • enabling the delivery of free and fair elections and referendums, focusing on the needs of electors and addressing the changing environment to ensure every vote remains secure and accessible
  • regulating political finance – taking proactive steps to increase transparency, ensure compliance and pursue breaches
  • using our expertise to make and advocate for changes to our democracy, 
  • aiming to improve fairness, transparency and efficiency

The Commission was set up in 2000 and reports to the Scottish, Welsh and UK Parliaments.

2. Non-party campaigners must register with the Commission if they intend to spend more than £10,000 campaigning at the Scottish Parliament election during the regulated period. 

Every political party that contested the Scottish Parliament election is required to submit campaign expenditure returns to the Electoral Commission, as well as non-party campaigners who spent over the registration thresholds. The deadlines for delivering spending returns depend on how much a party or campaigner spent. 

Political parties and non-party campaigners that spent under £250,000 at the Scottish Parliament election were required to submit their returns by 6 August 2021. Political parties and non-party campaigners that spent over £250,000 have until 6 November 2021 to submit their audited returns.

The Commission has published the returns as they were submitted by the party or campaigner. Where appropriate, it will consider any inaccuracies or incomplete information in line with its Enforcement Policy.

All figures are rounded to the nearest £.