Report: Campaign spending at the 2014 European Parliamentary elections

This report provides an overview of the campaign spending and donations rules at the 2014 European Parliamentary election. It also provides links to more information about how much was spent at the election and donations given for the purpose of meeting campaign spending at these elections.

At the 2014 European Parliamentary elections, political parties, candidates and non-party campaigners spent a total of just over £10.8 million.

There were 31 political parties contesting 70 seats across Great Britain and 10 contesting three seats in Northern Ireland. Three political parties, No2EU, Britain First and Communities United Party did not meet the statutory deadline for providing a return. These failures to meet the deadline are being considered in line with the Electoral Commission’s enforcement policy which is available on our website.

Political parties spent a total of £8,440,434 in England, £955,815 in Scotland, £499,971 in Wales and £296,651 in Northern Ireland. There were no individual candidates contesting these elections in Great Britain. Candidates in Northern Ireland spent a total of £391,466.

As of 15 December 2014, five non-party campaigners who were registered with the Commission submitted spending returns after the election. All of these non-party campaigners submitted their spending returns on time. These non-party campaigners spent a total of £187,173 in England, £16,460 in Scotland, £11,177 in Wales and £3,224 in Northern Ireland. They received a total of £127,400 in reportable donations.

Our regulatory work at these polls in the six months before polling day (22 November 2013 and 22 May 2014) included:

• Registering 47 new political parties, of which six went on to contest the European elections
• Publishing and updating written guidance for candidates and agents, political parties and non-party campaigners
• Delivering training sessions for candidates, political parties and their staff on the rules at these polls
• Providing advice in response to over 1,400 enquiries from political parties, candidates and non-party campaigners
• Undertaking campaign and campaigner monitoring to ensure the rules were being followed; and taking regulatory action where necessary