Electoral Commission
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Electoral Commission statement on assessment of Ryanair spending on EU Referendum campaigning

The Electoral Commission has recently (10 June) announced that it has concluded its assessment into whether there was evidence that Ryanair may have breached referendum campaign spending rules set out in the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act (2000). The Commission found that the company’s campaign spending has not exceeded £10,000, and accordingly, is satisfied that there are no reasonable grounds to suspect that a breach of PPERA has occurred.

As part of the Commission’s monitoring of referendum campaign spending we identified that the company was undertaking campaign activities and have been in correspondence with Ryanair about this activity.

Commenting on the assessment into Ryanair’s campaign spending, an Electoral Commission spokesperson said:

“We are satisfied, following an assessment that the available evidence suggests Ryanair has not spent in excess of £10,000 without registering as a campaigner for the EU referendum”.

“We will continue to monitor campaign spending in the run-up to the referendum and take action if it is appropriate and necessary to do so in line with our established Enforcement Policy”.

For further information contact Electoral Commission press office on 020 7271 0704 orpress@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 referendum held under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act (2000).
  2. Anyone can spend up to £10,000 on campaigning during the referendum period. The referendum period is when the rules on donations and spending apply and runs from 15 April 2016 up to and including polling day, 23 June 2016. Anyone intending to spend more than £10,000 must register with the Electoral Commission to become a ‘registered campaigner’.
  3. It is an offense under s117(3) and (4) of PPERA to spend in excess of £10,000 on campaign spending in a referendum without first registering with the Electoral Commission as a permitted participant.
  4. For more information about the rules for campaigners during the referendum period, see the Commission’s media handbook here

 

Channel website: https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk

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