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As part of its regular monthly casework update, the Electoral Commission has today (21 April) published details of a £1,200 fine imposed on the National Conservative Draws Society. 

The society has been fined for repeatedly failing to notify the Commission that it had made donations to the Conservative Party in excess of £25,000 during 2012, 2013, and 2014. 

Whilst the Conservative Party reported receiving the donations, under The Political Parties Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (PPERA), unincorporated associations are also required to notify the Commission when their donations to political parties exceed £25,000 in a year, and provide details about the association. The National Conservative Draws Society did not do this.

The Commission is satisfied that the failure to provide the notification was an oversight and there was no intention not to comply with the rules. 

The National Conservative Draws Society paid the fine on 16 April. Any financial sanctions that are paid to the Commission go into the Consolidated Fund which is managed by HM Treasury and not the Electoral Commission. 

For details of previous concluded cases and sanctions see the Commission’s website here.

For further information contact:
Karim Aziz in the Electoral Commission press office on 020 7271 0704 orkaziz@electoralcommission.org.uk 
Out of office hours 07789 920 414

Notes to editors

1. The Electoral Commission is an independent body set up by the UK Parliament. Our aim is integrity and public confidence in the UK’s democratic process. We regulate party and election finance and set standards for well-run elections and are responsible for the conduct and regulation of referendums held under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act (2000).
2. The Electoral Commission produces detailed guidance on the party and election finance rules. For further information, please see here.
3. The Electoral Commission has a range of enforcement powers under PPERA 2000. For more information on the regulatory work of the Commission see the website here.
4. Any potential breaches of the rules which regulate political party funding are considered in line with the Commission’s enforcement policy which can be accessed here. 
5. On the third Tuesday of every month, the Electoral Commission publishes details of concluded cases where the Commission has imposed sanctions here.