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

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Unsolicited material addressed to voters

Costs associated with obtaining information and targeting or identifying voters, including database costs

This includes the cost of accessing, obtaining, purchasing, developing or maintaining:

  • IT software or contact databases
  • any information, by whatever means

that is used to facilitate the sending of unsolicited material to voters.

For example, the purchase of email addresses.

It includes the cost of accessing, obtaining or developing data sets, including data analytics to target voters by whatever means, including the cost of agencies, organisations or others that identify groups of voters, by whatever means.

For example, the cost of any agency paid to analyse social media content to facilitate targeting of voters across electoral areas and the cost of modelling by any agency based on that analysis.

It includes the cost of any services to identify voters that are purchased, developed or provided before the regulated period, but are used to target voters during the regulated period.

Where information or access to information is obtained from a third party, the commercial cost of obtaining that information from the third party is included.

Costs associated with preparing, producing or distributing unsolicited material to voters, including via digital means

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

that is used to:

  • prepare, produce or facilitate the production of the unsolicited material
  • disseminate by distribution or otherwise the unsolicited material, including any cost attributable to increasing the visibility of material via any means.

It includes the cost of delivering material by any means including electronic means or the physical distribution of the material, for example the cost of envelopes and stamps or the purchase of a system for sending emails.

It includes the cost of accessing, developing and maintaining any digital or other network which promotes or increases the visibility of unsolicited material on any platform.

For example, payment to developer to create an app that facilitates targeting of the party’s material on a social media channel.

It includes the cost of oversight and maintenance of all social media, digital or other forms of distribution of unsolicited material. This includes the maintenance of all social media accounts, including if they are maintained by another entity/individual.

Other costs that are included

It includes the cost of any rights or licensing fee for any image used in producing unsolicited material.

It includes the cost of paper or any other medium on which unsolicited material is printed.

It includes the cost of purchase and use of any equipment in connection with:

  • preparation, production or facilitating the production of the unsolicited material
  • dissemination by distribution or otherwise of the unsolicited material

It includes the cost of purchase, hire or use of:

  • photocopying equipment
  • printing equipment

for use in printing unsolicited material.

It includes a relevant proportion of the cost of:

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

associated with the preparation, production, dissemination and distribution of unsolicited material.

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

Costs that are not included 

It does not include any cost associated with the obtaining of data as permitted under any statute or regulation.

For example, political parties are entitled to a copy of the electoral register via regulation 102 of the Representation of the People (England and Wales) Regulations 2001. No notional spending needs to be accounted for with regard to use of such a register.

Last updated: 9 November 2023