Party spending and pre-poll donations and loans: UK Parliamentary general election

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Market research or canvassing

Services, premises, facilities or equipment provided by others

This includes the cost of use, or hire, of any:

  • agency, individual or organisation
  • services provided by any agency, individual or organisation
  • premises or facilities
  • equipment

used to:

  • prepare, produce or facilitate canvassing or market research
  • conduct or co-ordinate canvassing or market research
  • record or analyse or otherwise utilise the results of any market research or canvassing activity

For example, the cost of using phone banks to contact voters, including the development of scripts for use by phone bank employees that are designed to influence voters.

Costs of obtaining or maintaining data

This includes the cost of accessing, purchasing, developing and maintaining:

  • IT software or contact databases
  • data sets, including the use of data analytics

to facilitate or undertake market research or canvassing.

For example, it includes the cost of undertaking social media listening and analysing the result to analyse the intention of voters. It includes costs that are incurred prior to the regulated period where the data is then used during the regulated period.

Other costs that are included 

It includes the cost of any purchase and use of any equipment required to:

  • prepare, produce or facilitate canvassing or market research
  • conduct or co-ordinate canvassing or market research
  • record or analyse or otherwise utilise the results of any market research or canvassing activity

For example:

  • laptops or tablets if used for canvassing
  • mobile phones if used by the leader/co-ordinator of the canvassing

where that equipment and/or associated costs are paid for or reimbursed by the party or a third party.

It includes the cost of a relevant proportion of:

  • office accommodation
  • business rates
  • electricity
  • phone rental and internet access

associated with market research or canvassing.

It includes the cost of food and/or accommodation for any individual who provides services in connection with market research or canvassing for the party, where that is paid for or reimbursed by the party.  

Last updated: 9 November 2023