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

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Party political broadcasts

If you are entitled to party political broadcasts, you must include the production costs as campaign spending. You do not need to include the value of the airtime.1

You must include the cost of use, or hire, of any:

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

to prepare, produce or facilitate the production of the content or to broadcast the content.

Overheads and associated costs

It includes the cost of any software of any kind for use on any device for the design and production of material in-house.

For example, a licensing fee for a software application for use in designing broadcast content.

It includes the cost of purchase and use of any equipment for the preparation, production, facilitation of production or broadcast of the content.

It includes a relevant proportion of the cost of:

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

associated with the preparation, production, facilitation of production and/or broadcast of the content.

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

Last updated: 9 November 2023