Elections expense limits - Parliament
Elections expense limits - Parliament
Elections expense limits - Parliament
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
B. National campaign <strong>limits</strong><br />
For the first time, PPERA imposed <strong>limits</strong> on how much registered political parties could<br />
spend on campaigning in various circumstances. Schedule 9 imposes <strong>limits</strong> in parliamentary<br />
elections. It also specifies that expenditure in the 365 days up to the day of a general election<br />
is counted towards the limit. The national expenditure limit faced by a political party is<br />
based on the number seats it contests:<br />
3. - (1) This paragraph imposes <strong>limits</strong> in relation to campaign expenditure incurred by<br />
or on behalf of a registered party which contests one or more constituencies at a<br />
parliamentary general election.<br />
(2) Where a registered party contests one or more constituencies in England, Scotland<br />
or Wales, the limit applying to campaign expenditure which is incurred by or on<br />
behalf of the party in the relevant period in that part of Great Britain is-<br />
(a) £30,000 multiplied by the number of constituencies contested by the party in<br />
that part of Great Britain; or<br />
(b) if greater, the appropriate amount specified in sub-paragraph (3).<br />
(3) The appropriate amount is-<br />
(a) in relation to England, £810,000;<br />
(b) in relation to Scotland, £120,000; and<br />
(c) in relation to Wales, £60,000.<br />
(4) Where a registered party contests one or more constituencies in Northern<br />
Ireland, the limit applying to campaign expenditure which is incurred by or on<br />
behalf of the party in the relevant period in Northern Ireland is £30,000<br />
multiplied by the number of constituencies contested by the party there. 8<br />
Schedule 10 imposes <strong>limits</strong> on the expenditure of “recognised third parties”.<br />
The rules imposing <strong>limits</strong> on campaign expenditure in 2001 were modified because the<br />
relevant part of the Act did not come into force until 16 February 2001 (within the twelvemonth<br />
period leading up the 2001 General Election). The Political Parties, <strong>Elections</strong> and<br />
Referendums Act 2000 (Commencement No 1 and Transitional Provisions) Order 2001 made<br />
provisions for parties to spend the equivalent of up to £24,000 per constituency. 9 In its report<br />
on campaign spending in the 2001 General Election, the Electoral Commission summarised<br />
the expenditure <strong>limits</strong> for parties and reported how much the parties had spent on their<br />
campaigns. 10 The Electoral Commission’s information and details for the next General<br />
Election are set out below.<br />
8<br />
9<br />
10<br />
http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/files/dms/Guidanceforelectionagents(final)_15449-<br />
10977__E__N__S__W__.pdf<br />
Political Parties, Eelctions and Referendums Act 2000, chapter 41, Schedule 9<br />
Political Parties, <strong>Elections</strong> and Referendums Act 2000 (Commencement No 1 and Transitional Provisions)<br />
Order 2001 SI 2001/222<br />
Electoral Commission, Election 2001 – Campaign spending, November 2002,<br />
6