Monthly update - concluded investigations (August 2023)
Monthly update - concluded investigations
Details of the investigation concluded in the last month have been published today by the Electoral Commission, as part of its regular update of concluded investigations.
An investigation into one non-party campaigner closed over the last month, with no sanctions imposed.
Investigations where offences were found:
| Who we investigated | What we investigated | What we found | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Precious Life (non-party campaigner at the 2022 Northern Ireland Assembly election) | Failure to include a valid imprint on campaign material. | Offences found | No sanction |
Louise Edwards, Director of Regulation and Digital Transformation, said:
"It is vital for transparency that voters can see who is responsible for the campaign material they receive ahead of elections. Imprint laws ensure that voters have transparency over political material and help support public confidence in well run elections.
“Our investigation into Precious Life found that the non-party campaigner failed to include a complete imprint on its campaign material ahead of the 2022 Northern Ireland Assembly election. In this case, no sanctions were issued. Where we find offences, we consider a range of factors, as set out in the Enforcement Policy, before deciding whether to impose sanctions. Precious Life had campaigned at previous elections and our efforts to engage with them, and their response to that, has led to improved compliance.”
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
- 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. - 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.
- Penalties imposed by the Commission go into the Consolidated Fund. This is managed by HM Treasury and not the Electoral Commission.