Raise a concern about political finance

We carefully review all information you give us to decide how to address your concern. Depending on the circumstances, we may:

• direct you to an organisation which can help you
• clearly explain specific rules around political finance
• work with campaigners to help them follow the rules using advice and guidance
• take enforcement action

We provide support to people and organisations we regulate to help them understand the rules on political finance and how to follow them. When it’s appropriate and in the public interest, we may take enforcement action. This can include investigations and sanctions.

If you provide your contact details, we will contact you within 21 days. We may contact you before that to ask for further information or clarification. However please provide as much information as you are able when raising your concerns.

We will only decide to take enforcement action if:

• your concern shows a failure to comply with the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (PPERA) rules
• this failure is supported by evidence
• your concern has not already been assessed, or has been assessed but new evidence has come about
• your concern has not already been subject to enforcement action
• it is in the public interest and we haven’t been able to resolve the matter any other way.

We handle concerns about the spending, donations and financial reporting of:

• political parties
• non-party campaigners
• individual party members and those who hold elected office, such as MPs
• referendum campaigners
• members associations
• unincorporated associations, which is any group of more than two people

You can read our enforcement policy to find out more about what we do if we find an individual or organisation is breaking the law.

While we are able to offer advice and support in some circumstances, we are unable to take enforcement action in respect of most of the following concerns.

Contact the police if your concern is about:

• the behaviour or political finances of an individual candidate
• non-party campaigners who campaign for or against a specific candidate
• the intimidation or harassment of candidates, campaigners or elected officials, whether in writing or in person.

Speak to your local authority if you have concerns about:

• how an election was run in your area, such as electoral registration, postal voting or a polling station
• someone’s behaviour in a polling station
• how a political party has used a local council’s facilities
• any marketing or communications, such as social media posts, shared by them during the ‘pre-election’ period which you think may be of a political nature.

The content of most political campaign material is not regulated in the UK. However, you can speak to Ofcom if you are concerned that:

• a TV advert might be of a political nature, as political TV broadcasts are banned in the UK.

Speak to a political party if you are concerned about:

• how they got your name, address or email address to send you campaign material
• an internal party dispute
• any unpaid invoices to suppliers.

Speak to the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) if you are concerned about:

• how your personal data has been used or handled
• the use or handling of your personal data.

You can raise a concern by filling out this form.

Read our Privacy Policy to find out how we use and protect the information you provide.