Non-party campaigners: UK Parliamentary general elections

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Spending more than £700 on regulated campaign activities

Individuals and organisations that are not based in the UK or are not on a UK electoral register are not permitted to spend more than £700 on regulated campaign activity.1

A non-party campaigner can only spend more than £700 on regulated campaign activity if they are:

  • listed in section 88(2) PPERA as eligible to give a notification to the Commission or
  • an unincorporated association with the requisite UK connection.2

An unincorporated association has ‘the requisite UK connection’ if it consists of two or more persons, all of whom are registered overseas electors.3

You should check carefully whether you, or your organisation, are eligible to spend more than £700 on regulated activities.

Under the law, only the following types of individuals or organisations can spend more than £700 on general campaigning at UK Parliamentary general elections:

  • an individual registered on a UK electoral register or resident in the UK
  • a UK registered company which is incorporated in the UK and carries on business in the UK
  • a UK registered trade union
  • a UK registered building society
  • a UK registered limited liability partnership which carries on business in the UK
  • a UK registered friendly, industrial or provident society
  • a UK based unincorporated association that carries on the majority of its business or other activities in the UK
  • a body incorporated by Royal Charter
  • a UK charitable incorporated organisation
  • a Scottish partnership which carries on business in the UK
  • an unincorporated association with the requisite UK connection4

If you do not fall into one of these categories, you cannot spend more than £700.5  Registered political parties cannot spend more than £700 on regulated non-party campaigning activities. 

If you do spend more than £700 when you are not eligible, you will be guilty of an offence.6

How much can you spend before submitting a notification?

A non-party campaigner that is permitted to spend more than £700 on regulated campaign activity may spend up to £10,000 across the UK without notifying the Commission.7

Non-party campaigners intending to spend more than £10,000 on regulated campaign activity must submit a notification to the Commission following which they will appear on the register of notifications.8  Only certain types of entities can submit a notification to the Commission.

An unincorporated association with the requisite UK connection is a type of organisation introduced under the Elections Act 2022. This category is in addition to the existing category of UK based unincorporated associations that carry on the majority of their business or other activities in the UK.

An unincorporated association has ‘the requisite UK connection’ if it consists of two or more individuals who are all registered overseas electors.9

Last updated: 19 December 2023