Investigations concluded by the Electoral Commission
Investigations concluded by the Electoral Commission
Details of the investigations concluded in the last month have been published today by the Electoral Commission. This is an important part of delivering transparency in political finance in the UK.
Investigations where we found offences:
| Name and type of regulated entity | What was investigated | Offences found | Decision taken |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reform UK (registered political party) |
Failure to deliver a complete campaign spending report |
Failure to deliver a complete campaign spending report |
No sanction |
| Late payment of claims | Late payment of claims | ||
| People Before Profit Alliance (registered political party) | Failure to return impermissible donations within 30 days of receipt | Failure to return impermissible donations within 30 days of receipt |
No sanction |
Commenting on the concluded investigations, Louise Edwards, Director of Regulation, said:
“Laws on donor permissibility are in place to ensure parties are only accepting money from those eligible to give it. In the case of People Before Profit, the donations were received from an individual who temporarily was not on the electoral register, so therefore unable to donate.
“Reform UK failed to deliver a complete campaign spending report for the 2019 UK Parliamentary General Election. The party was also late in paying claims for campaign spending to its suppliers. It is important for transparency that voters have timely and accurate information about political parties’ finances.
“We do not automatically issue a sanction when an offence has taken place, as we take a proportionate approach and take into account mitigating factors.”
Ends
For more information contact the Electoral Commission press office on 020 7271 0704, out of office hours 07789 920 414 or [email protected]
Notes to editors
Notes to editors
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 UK, Welsh, and Scottish parliaments.
2. This release forms part of the Commission’s regular monthly investigations update, an important part of its commitment to deliver transparency in political finance in the UK. Information of this nature is published routinely on the third Tuesday of each month. Details for sanctions from previous months are available.
3. Penalties imposed by the Commission go into the Consolidated Fund. This is managed by HM Treasury and not the Electoral Commission.