Parliamentary Parties Panel minutes: 2 February 2026

Minutes were approved with no amends.

LD explained that the Commission had already met with significant numbers of candidates, agents and parties in advance of the upcoming elections May through its webinar programme and answering queries via the advice line. She highlighted the number of first-time candidates and agents, and that there had been very positive feedback on the new candidate forms and noted any further feedback from parties was welcome.

CH gave an update on the Commission’s security guidance which was published in November 2025. She explained the key role it would play to set and manage expectations for parties, candidates as well as electoral administrators and that it was important candidates and their supporters can participate safely in this election and be free from intimidation. She highlighted that a candidate contact form was included in nomination packs to allow candidates to pass their contacts, via the Returning Officer, to the relevant contact within Operation Ford.

VR spoke about the Commission’s public awareness campaigns ahead of May, ensuring voters have all the essential information to vote on polling day. He noted the booklets for all households in Scotland and Wales would be sent in the last week in March. He noted that the UK Government had announced some elections in England would be postponed and explained that the Commission was working with the electoral community to ensure they could understand and manage any changes. He also set out the Commission’s position that all scheduled elections should go ahead as planned and only postponed in exceptional circumstances.

MT noted the drop in postal vote applications, including one area where there had been a drop off of 40%. She asked if the Commission would be doing any research into this issue. JK explained the Commission was confident that local authorities were doing all they could to manage applications to renew postal votes. CH noted the Commission was working with local authorities to support them with awareness raising, including producing social media assets for their use. She noted that the issue could be raised through the Commission’s ongoing work with the Association of Electoral Administrators (AEA) and explained this could potentially also be included in our next ERO survey.

AW raised concerns that some postal votes had been delivered and then subsequently cancelled for voters at a local council by-election in North East Somerset. CH explained that the approach taken by the local authority in this case was in line with the law. She set out that applications need to be delivered prior to the deadline for renewal, as at this point voters are entitled to a postal vote, but if the voter does not renew by the 31 January deadline the postal votes are cancelled. JK explained that the Commission had worked with impacted local authorities, the AEA and MHCLG to raise awareness of this issue and offered tailored advice. AW was reassured by this explanation. DA noted that it would be helpful in future for parties to receive a notification in advance of the deadline. 

SW raised the proposed flexible voting pilots, and that in certain areas these would be impacted by the UK Government’s announcement on postponement of elections. He asked for clarity on what pilots would be taking place and the relevant timetables. SI explained that the MHCLG colleagues were currently finalising the remaining pilot timetables and would update by writing to those attending the call in the next few days.

PNJ explained that the UK Government was preparing for the Representation of the People Bill’s introduction to Parliament, but that given it had not happened yet, the detail the team could share was limited. He noted that the Bill would be introduced when parliamentary time allows. He provided an overview of the department’s planned engagement, including the Minister’s plan to write to all MPs and peers after Bill publication. He explained that there would be a drop-in organised around specific sections in the Bill before the second reading to inform MPs with a specific interest prior to the debate. He noted that the Minister would also write to relevant Select Committees – including Education, Ethics and Integrity, MHCLG and the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee, as well as relevant APPGs. He also highlighted that the Department would organise roundtables and bilateral meetings with relevant stakeholders to consult on the Bill measures in greater detail. 

KH invited the various policy leads from MHCLG to provide an overview of the political finance measures:

DM explained the various changes to unincorporated associations (UAs) and that they were designed to bring UAs in line with members associations, to increase transparency and ensure donations come from UK sources. 

SW explained it was helpful to see this detail and encouraged the Department to share more detail, as this would help with Bill handling but also ensuring legislation is workable.

CH provided an overview of the extension of the Commission’s enforcement functions to include candidate offences and explained that this aimed to close existing loopholes by mirroring PPERA framework, raising the Commission’s maximum fine to £500,000 and addressing issues with leave to pay by giving the Commission the powers to grant it, rather than the courts. He also noted proposed changes to the laws regarding digital imprints.

AW noted his support for de-criminalising certain administrative offences and on the changes to “leave to pay”. He asked if the Commission was resourced to undertake the proposed expanded role, and if the enforcement policy would be updated to reflect the changes, if passed. JK explained that once the Bill has been published, the Commission would be able to provide a view on timelines and resourcing for the increased work.

DA also voiced support for the leave to pay changes but noted it would be helpful if this applied to the supplier as well as the party or candidate.
 

LC updated the PPP on to the security guidance that MHCLG have created for candidates and parties that was published in January, in English and Welsh. She explained that Police Scotland had produced their own guidance for candidates and parties in Scotland. She noted that Operation Ford applied to MSs and MSPs. She also spoke about the importance of candidates reporting issues to FOIAs to allow issues in specific areas to be logged and a full picture of the scale of candidate abuse and intimidation established. She also explained that they would welcome any feedback on their engagement with parties on this work.

OR noted that Plaid Cymru had upcoming training sessions planned with their candidates, and that it would be helpful for someone from the unit to feed into this online training. LC explained that she would be happy to consider this request, the same offer would be extended to all parties. MT said the Conservatives would also be happy to host a similar Teams call with their candidates.

PM explained the Commission had published updated interim guidance on cryptoassets that focused on how to on report and value this type of donation. He noted that the Commission continues to work with specialists and crypto providers and would update its guidance later in the year. 

JK explained that the Commission was happy to speak to parties individually to provide tailored advice or if they had any concerns or questions about the updated guidance.

SW asked about the impact of crypto off ramping and situations where cryptoassets are converted to fiat either by the party or by the donor. PM said the Commission was in active discussion with payment providers regarding the stage that money was received and would be happy to provide more detailed guidance on this in the future.

AW asked if the Commission had engaged with the crypto industry when updating the guidance. He noted the difficulties that parties would have to fully satisfy themselves of permissibility in relation to these types of donations.

PM highlighted that the Commission had been attempting to engage with crypto providers and had posed a number of questions to them as part of this work.

JK explained that as cryptoassets were not prohibited the Commission was focused on providing parties with the skills needed to do due diligence and the guidance publication and our ongoing support was an important part of this work. 

VR explained it is a fast-moving area where the Commission is working with the FCA and other key stakeholders. He noted the Commission had also given evidence to a number of parliamentary select committees on this issue and was expecting recommendations from them in this area.

GC provided an overview of the current progress to ensure that the required legislation to ensure the Online Absent Vote Application (OAVA) s available in devolved elections. He assured PPP members that MHCLG continues to provide support to devolved legislatures on implementation.

AW asked if the parties have been asked to engage on the technical side on the new PFO project. JK explained that there had been a number of input requests sent to the parties, and the Commission were particularly encouraging engagement from parties who had not yet inputted. VR explained that this was particularly urgent as the project would be moving to a new stage shortly.

KB flagged that the deadline for SOA on page 4 of the update report was incorrect. LD apologised for this typo. 

VR said the Commission was working on a revised Code of Conduct as part of our progress against the Speaker’s Conference recommendations. The Commission would be writing to parties shortly to ask for nominations of individuals who could feed into an initial meeting to discuss in late February or early March.

SW noted the debate regarding the value of a joint code, and whether shared principles might be more appropriate.

LD encouraged parties to share their own codes by the end of the week to allow the Commission to incorporate them into their work.

LD noted the upcoming extraordinary meeting for parties with MI5 and the CEO of NCSC.

DA noted the times for future meetings in June and September. LD confirmed the SNP would be chairing the June meeting, and Labour the meeting in September.