There are limits on how much candidates can spend at an election, and controls on the sources of funding for that spending.

After elections, candidates and their agents must submit a candidate spending return to their Returning Officer at the local council. The spending return lists how much the candidate spent during the election campaign and any donations they received.

For major elections, such as a UK Parliamentary general election, Returning Officers send copies of the candidate spending returns to us. We then make this data available by publishing it on our website.

We look at the returns to monitor compliance with the laws, but the police are responsible for dealing with any potential breaches.

View the spending returns for the 2024 UK Parliamentary general election.  

Spending limits 

The spending limit is the total amount a candidate can spend at an election. The limit depends on the constituency they are standing in.

It is calculated based on the number of eligible voters in a constituency. The more eligible voters there are, the higher the spending limit.

This is why the spending limit can vary greatly between constituencies.

Candidates and their agents are responsible for calculating their spending limit, using estimated figures from the Returning Officer.

In 2023 the UK Government increased the spending limits for candidates standing at a UK Parliamentary general election. The current formula for calculating a candidate's limit in a county constituency is £11,390 + 12p multiplied by the number of voters, or £11,390 + 8p multiplied by the number of voters in a borough/burgh constituency.

Spending returns

The candidate spending returns include the total the candidate spent, as well as a breakdown of how much they spent on items such as advertising, transport and public meetings. They also include any donations the candidate received above £50.

Download the data