Investigations
Detailed and complex investigations
When an investigation is more detailed or complex, or where we believe it involves significant issues of public interest, we will publish case summaries. These cases are available above.
Closed investigations
We publish information about recently closed investigations every month. These tables include the possible offence(s) we investigated, what we found, and what action we took. If you are looking for information on investigations not included here, please contact us
April 2022 - Present
Last updated 19 September 2023.
| Subject | Investigated for | Decision | Summary of reasons(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal Democrats (registered political party) | Failure to report 25 donations by due date | £2,400 paid on 18 September 2023 | Sanctions were appropriate in this case, in line with our enforcement policy. |
| Reclaim Party (registered political party) | Failure to deliver audit report with accounts by the due date | 1,250 paid on 15 September 2023 | The party's accounts were delivered on time but the audit report was delivered significantly later. The Commission was satisfied that a sanction was appropriate, in line with our Enforcement Policy. |
Breakthrough Party (registered political party) | Failure to report two donations by due date | Offences 2 x £200 penalties Paid on initial notice on 4 September 2023 | Sanctions were appropriate in the case of both late reported donations, in line with our enforcement policy. |
| Conservative and Unionist Party (registered party) | Failure to report four donations by due date | 3 x £200 penalties Due for payment by 20 September 2023 | Sanctions were appropriate in the case of three of the four late reported donations, in line with our enforcement policy. |
| Liberal Democrats (registered political party) | Failure to report 21 donations by due date Failure to report two new loans and four changes to existing loans by due date | Offences £3,300.00 total penalties 4 x £200 Fixed Monetary Penalties 9 x Variable Monetary Penalties (4 x £250 and 5 x £300) Paid on 15 August 2023 | Sanctions were appropriate in the case of some late reported donations and loans, in line with our enforcement policy. Others were not of such significant value as to merit action. |
| Social Democratic and Labour Party (registered political party in Northern Ireland) | Failure to report a donation by due date | Offence £1,000 Variable Monetary Penalty Due for payment by 6 October 2023 | A sanction was considered appropriate and proportionate in this case, in line with our enforcement policy. |
| Precious Life (non party campaigner at the 2022 Northern Ireland Assembly election) | Failure to include valid imprint on campaign material. | Offence No sanction | The campaigner failed to include a full imprint on some material, though did include some of the required information. The campaigner engaged with the Commission and a sanction was not proportionate in this case. |
| All for Unity (political party) | Failure to deliver two quarterly donations and loans reports by due date | No sanction | The party delivered all of the required submissions during the investigation, and as the party is no longer registered, with no indication of intent to re-register, the Commission did not consider that any sanction was proportionate. |
| English Democrats (registered political party) | Failure to provide audit report with statement of accounts for 2019 | No sanction | The party delivered accounts but not the required audit report. The Commission considered the mitigating circumstances, including in relation to the COVID pandemic, meant that a sanction was not proportionate in this case. |
| Irish Republican Socialist Party (registered political party in Northern Ireland) | Failure to deliver quarterly donations and loans reports by due dates | No determination of offence | The party delivered five quarterly reports late during 2022 and 2023. All were nil reports, and the lateness varied between 4 and 87 days. The Commission made no determination of offence primarily on the basis of the personal circumstances of the registered treasurer during the relevant period. The fact that all of the reports were nil reports was also a relevant consideration. |
| Conservative and Unionist Party (registered party) | Failure to report two donations by due date | No sanction | The two donations at issue were to local branches of the party. They were not of significant value in the context of political finance, and although reported late, were reported in the next quarterly report due. We also recognised that the party had made changes to ensure the errors in these cases did not recur. We concluded that it was not proportionate or in the public interest impose any sanction. |
| Green Party Northern Ireland (registered party) | Inaccurate reporting of three donations, late delivery of three donation reports | No sanction | Two of the three late delivered quarterly report were delivered marginally late. The three donations at issue were not of significant value in the context of political finance and the inaccuracies were minor. We also took into account the personal circumstances of the treasurer at the time, that the party took steps taken to rectify transparency, and engaged effectively with us. We also noted the Party’s good compliance record both prior to these matters and since they occurred. We did not consider it proportionate to impose any sanction, and we will continue to provide ongoing support. |
| Irish Republican Socialist Party (registered political party) | Failure to deliver spending return for 2022 Northern Ireland Assembly election by due date | No sanction | The return disclosed no controlled spending, and the registered treasurer co-operated fully with the Commission. We also took into account mitigating personal circumstances. We concluded that it was not proportionate or in the public interest impose any sanction. |
| Labour Party (registered political party) | Failure to report six donations by due date | 3 x £200 penalties Paid on 13 April 2023 | Sanctions were appropriate in the case of some late reported donations, in line with our enforcement policy. Others were not of such significant value as to merit action. |
| English Democrats (registered political party) | Late delivery of annual statement of accounts | Offence Penalty of £1,500 Paid on 2 February 2023 | The party's 2021 annual statement of accounts was delivered late. A sanction was appropriate in this case in line with our enforcement policy. |
| Portsmouth Independent Party (registered political party) | Late delivery of annual statement of accounts Late notification of change of registered officer | Offences No sanction | The party's 2021 statement of accounts was delivered late, and notification of a change in registered treasurer was also delivered outside the required timescale. Taking into account all of the facts, the Commission did not consider it proportionate to impose sanctions. |
| Scotland's Independence Referendum Party (registered political party) | Failure to deliver annual statement of accounts | Offence No sanction | The party's 2021 statement of accounts remains outstanding but there was no evidence to indicate any significant transactions and the party was removed from the register in November 2022 having not sought to remain registered. The Commission was satisfied that the loss to transparency was minor and it was not proportionate or in the public interest to take further action. |
| Conservative and Unionist Party (GB) (registered political party) | Late reporting of donations | Offences 3 x £200 penalties Paid on 2 November 2022 | Sanctions were appropriate in the case of some late reported donations, in line with our enforcement policy. Others were not of such significant value as to merit action. |
| Labour Party (registered political party) | Late reporting of donations | Offences 2 x £200 penalties Paid on 7 November 2022 | Sanctions were appropriate in the case of some late reported donations, in line with our enforcement policy. Others were not of such significant value as to merit action. |
| British Independents (registered political party) | Failure to deliver annual statement of accounts for 2021 | Offence No sanction | The accounts remain outstanding but accounts disclosing nil or minimal income and expenditure had been correctly delivered in previous years and the party was removed from the register in November 2022 having not sought to remain registered. The Commission was satisfied that the loss to transparency was minor and it was not proportionate or in the public interest to take further action. |
| Redcar & Cleveland Independent (registered political party) | Failure to deliver quarterly donation report and quarterly transactions report by due date | No offence Closed without further action | The party's Quarter 2 2022 donations and transactions reports were delivered late, but evidence of a reasonable excuse was provided. The offence in question can only be found where there is no reasonable excuse and therefore no offence was committed. |
| Unionist Clubs Scotland (non-party campaigner) | Failure to include valid imprint on campaign material | No offence Closed without further action | The Commission was satisfied that election material did not include the required imprint, but was also satisfied that a potential reasonable excuse existed. The offence in question can only be found where there is no reasonable excuse and therefore no offence was committed. |
| British National Party (GB) (registered party) | Late reporting of donations Late delivery of annual accounts | Offences Penalties of £2,000 and £750 in relation to two late reported donations. Penalty of £3,000 in relation to late delivery of accounts | The party's 2020 annual statement of accounts were delivered late. Two donations were also reported late. Sanctions were appropriate in each case in line with our enforcement policy. |
| Burning Pink (registered party) | Late delivery of annual statement of accounts | No offence | The party's 2021 statement of accounts was delivered late, but evidence of a reasonable excuse was provided. The offence in question can only be found where there is no reasonable excuse and therefore no offence was committed. |
| Liberal Democrats (GB) (registered political party) | Late reporting of donations Paying claims for payment received late; paying claims for payment late | Offences 5 x £200 penalties; 1 x £500 penalty | Sanctions were appropriate in the case of some late reported donations, in line with our enforcement policy. Others were not of such significant value as to merit action. The offences relating to claims received or paid late did not involve significant sums and we did not consider it proportionate to impose sanctions. |
| A Better Way to Govern (registered political party) | Late delivery of annual statement of accounts | Offence No sanction | The accounts were delivered late but considering all of the facts, the Commission did not consider it proportionate to impose a sanction. |
| Political Unity for Progress (registered political party) | Late delivery of annual statement of accounts | Offence No sanction | The accounts were delivered late but considering all of the facts, the Commission did not consider it proportionate to impose a sanction. |
| Holland On Sea & Eastcliff Matters (registered political party) | Late delivery of annual statement of accounts | Offence No sanction | The accounts were delivered late but considering all of the facts, the Commission did not consider it proportionate to impose a sanction. |
| Democratic Network (registered political party) | Incomplete quarterly donations reports | Offences No sanctions | The reports were delivered on time but without the required declarations, which were delivered after the deadline. The Commission did not consider it proportionate to impose a sanction. |
| Reform (GB) (registered political party) | Failure to deliver a complete campaign expenditure return for 2019 UK Parliamentary General Election (missing invoices); late payment of claims | Offences No sanctions | The number and value of missing invoices and late payments were minor, and it was not proportionate or in the public interest to propose sanctions. |
| People Before Profit Alliance (NI) (registered party) | Failure to return impermissible donations within 30 days of receipt. | Offences No sanctions | The impermissible donations were returned, albeit outside the statutory timescale, and the donor was at all relevant times eligible to appear on a register. |
| Conservative and Unionist Party (GB) (registered political party) | Failure to return an impermissible donation within 30 days of receipt; late reporting of donations and regulated transactions (loans) | Offences 4 x variable monetary penalties totalling £3,080 Paid on 3 August 2022 | No sanction was imposed for late reported donations, which were not of significant value, or the failure to return an impermissible donation within 30 days. Sanctions were appropriate in the case of some late reported loans, in line with our enforcement policy. |
| Basildon Community Residents Party (registered political party) | Failure to deliver quarterly donation report; failure to deliver quarterly transactions report | Offences No sanctions | The overdue reports were delivered during the course of enforcement action, and the party is now exempt from donations and loans reporting. The Commission did not consider it proportionate to impose any sanctions. |
| Workers Party of Great Britain (registered political party) | Failure to deliver complete campaign expenditure return; failure to provide signed declaration accompanying campaign expenditure return. | Offences No sanctions | The return did not specify the relevant poll to which it related, and the relevant declaration was not included. The spending reported was however minimal, and the Commission did not consider it proportionate or in the public interest to impose sanctions. |
| Co-operative Party (registered political party) | Late reporting of a donation | Offence No sanction | The donation was reported late but mitigating factors meant no sanction was imposed. |
| All for Unity (registered political party) | Failure to deliver complete campaign expenditure return for 2021 Scottish Parliamentary election; failure to delivery quarterly donations and transactions reports. | Offences. No sanctions. Closed without further action. | Mitigating factors meant that no sanction was imposed. The party has since voluntarily deregistered. |
| British Resistance (registered political party) | Failure to deliver annual statement of accounts; late delivery of notification to change party's registered treasurer. | Offence and contravention of a prescribed requirement. No sanctions. Closed without further action. | Mitigating factors meant that no sanction was imposed. |
| Conservative and Unionist Party (Peterborough accounting unit) | Failure to return an impermissible donation within 30 days of receipt. | No offence. | The accounting unit accepted, and the party reported, a £5,000 donation from Cooper Quinn Holdings Limited. Information subsequently emerged calling into question whether the donor were permissible. The Commission's investigation determined that the donor was permissible and that no offence was committed. |
| Scottish Green Party (registered political party) | Late delivery of annual statement of accounts. | Offence. £2,300 variable monetary penalty. Due by 13 July 2022. | The party's 2020 annual statement of accounts were delivered late. A sanction was appropriate in this case in line with our enforcement policy. |
| Kingston Independent Residents Group (registered political party) | Late delivery of annual statement of accounts. | Offence. £200 fixed monetary penalty. Paid on initial notice on 28 April 2022. | The party's 2020 annual statement of accounts were delivered late. A sanction was appropriate in this case in line with our enforcement policy. |
| Let London Live (registered political party) | Late delivery of quarterly donations and transactions reports. | Offences. No sanctions. Closed without further action. | The party's Quarter 4 2021 donations and transactions reports were delivered late, but mitigating factors meant that no sanctions were imposed. |
| Scotland's Independence Referendum Party (registered political party) | Failure to delivery quarterly donations report. | No determination of offence. Closed without further action. | The party delivered two reports of transactions (loans) for Quarter 4 of 2021, both nil reports, but no donations report. The investigation established that one of the reports was in fact intended to be for donations and no reportable donations had been accepted. It was not therefore proportionate to investigate further and further guidance was provided to the treasurer. |
| HOPE not hate Ltd (registered non-party campaigner) | Failure to deliver a pre-poll donation report for the 2019 UK Parliamentary General Election; failure to deliver a complete campaign expenditure return for the 2019 UK Parliamentary General Election (missing invoices). | Offences. £1,000 variable monetary penalty Payment due by 9 June 2022. | All outstanding invoices were subsequently provided. Mitigating factors meant that no sanction was imposed for the failure to deliver a complete campaign expenditure return. |
| Labour Party (registered political party) | Failure to deliver a complete campaign expenditure return for 2019 UK Parliamentary General Election (missing invoices). | Offence. No sanction. Closed without further action. | All but one of the outstanding invoices were subsequently provided. Mitigating factors meant that no sanction was imposed. |
| Labour Party (registered political party) | Late reporting of donations. | Offences. No sanction. Closed without further action. | Sixteen donations were reported late however mitigating factors meant that no sanctions were imposed in each case. |
| Social Democratic Party (registered political party) | Late delivery of campaign expenditure return for 2021 Scottish Parliamentary election. | Offence. No sanction. Closed without further action. | The return was delivered late but mitigating factors meant that no sanction was imposed. |
| Liberal Democrats (Edinburgh West accounting unit) | Failure to return a donation from an impermissible donor within 30 days. | Offence. No sanction. Closed without further action. | The accounting unit accepted a £1,000 donation from an impermissible donor. The donation was returned to the donor outside of the 30 day period required by law. Mitigating factors meant that no sanction was imposed. |
| Open Britain Limited (registered non-party campaigner) | Late delivery of 2019 UK Parliamentary General Election campaign expenditure return; failure to include all required invoices. | No offence in relation to late delivery of spending return; offence in relation to the missing invoices. No sanctions. Closed without further action. | The spending return was delivered late but mitigating factors related to the COVID 19 pandemic meant that no offence was found. No sanction was imposed for the omission of a small number of invoices of relatively low value. The organisation's registration as a non-party campaigner lapsed on 27 January 2021. |
| Labour Party (Islington South and Finsbury accounting unit) | Late delivery of annual statement of accounts. | Offence. No sanction. Closed without further action. | The accounts were delivered late but mitigating factors meant that no sanction was imposed. |
| Conservative and Unionist Party (GB) (registered political party) | Failure to deliver accurate quarterly donations report. | Offence. No sanction. Closed without further action. | The name of one donor, Walsall Unionist Holdings Ltd, was misreported in one of the party's quarterly donations reports. Mitigating circumstances meant that no sanction was imposed. |
| Old Windsor Residents Association (registered political party) | Late delivery of quarterly donations and transactions reports. | Offences. No sanctions. Closed without further action. | Four of the party's quarterly donations and transactions reports were delivered late, but mitigating factors meant that no sanctions were imposed. |
| West Dunbartonshire Community Party (registered political party) | Late delivery of annual statement of accounts. | No offence (reasonable excuse). Closed without further action. | The party's 2020 annual statement of accounts were delivered late. However, evidence of a reasonable excuse was provided. The offence in question can only be found where there is no reasonable excuse and therefore no offence was committed. |
| Labour Party (Bath accounting unit) | Late delivery of annual statement of accounts. | No determination of offence. Closed without further action. | The accounting unit's 2020 annual statement of accounts were delivered late. The Commission made no determination of offence due to the personal circumstances of the registered accounting unit treasurer which meant that it was not considered proportionate to investigate. |