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The Electoral Commission has recently (15 July) announced that as part of its investigation into the Conservative and Unionist Party campaign spending returns it launched on 18 February 2016, it has withdrawn its application to the High Court for an information and document disclosure order. This means that there will be no hearing regarding the order. The Commission has made this decision because since issuing its application to the High Court on 12 May, it has received sufficient  material from the Party to proceed with its investigation.

The Commission is conducting a fair and thorough investigation and its inquiries are continuing. The investigation will establish whether any offences under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 have occurred and if so what further action, if any, may be appropriate.

The Commission will make no further comment on this matter in line with our Enforcement Policy.

For further information please contact Umar Hanif in the Electoral Commission press office on 020 7271 0704 or press@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. On 18 February 2016 the Commission announced that it had opened an investigation into allegations regarding the Conservative and Unionist Party spending return at the 2015 UK Parliamentary General Election.
3. On 1 March 2016 the Commission announced that it had extended the scope of its investigation in Conservative Party campaign spending returns to consider spending at by-elections held in Newark, Clacton and Rochester and Strood, which all took place during the regulated period for the General Election.