Electoral Commission
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Electoral Commission closes investigations into five political parties
Investigations into five political parties have closed over the last month, with the Electoral Commission imposing fines of £1,500 in one case. This is an important part of delivering transparency in political finance in the UK.
Investigations where we found offences:
| Who we investigated | What we investigated | What we found | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| A Better Way to Govern (political party) | Late delivery of annual statement of accounts | Late delivery of annual statement of accounts | No sanction |
| Democratic Network (political party) | Incomplete quarterly donations reports | Incomplete quarterly donations reports | No sanction |
| Holland on Sea & Eastcliff matters (political party) | Late delivery of annual statement of accounts | Late delivery of annual statement of accounts | No sanction |
| Liberal Democrats GB (political party) |
Late reporting of donations Late payment of invoices Payment of invoices received late |
Late reporting of donations Late payment of invoices Payment of invoices received late |
5 fines totalling £1,500 |
| Political Unity for Progress (political party) | Late delivery of annual statement of accounts | Late delivery of annual statement of accounts | No sanction |
Louise Edwards, Director of Regulation, recently said:
“Political finance laws are in place to make sure the system is transparent and accurate. The requirements for political parties are clear so it’s disappointing when they are not met.
“In the case of the Liberal Democrats, our investigations found offences related to the late reporting of donations and its spending return from the 2019 UK general election.
“Where we find offences, we do not automatically issue sanctions. We balance the evidence and take into consideration a range of factors before making our final decision.”
For more information contact the Electoral Commission press office on 020 7271 0704, out of office hours 07789 920 414 or press@electoralcommission.org.uk
Notes to Editors
- The Electoral Commission is the independent body which oversees elections and regulates political finance in the UK. We work to promote public confidence in the democratic process and ensure its integrity by:
- enabling the delivery of free and fair elections and referendums, focusing on the needs of electors and addressing the changing environment to ensure every vote remains secure and accessible
- regulating political finance – taking proactive steps to increase transparency, ensure compliance and pursue breaches
- using our expertise to make and advocate for changes to our democracy, aiming to improve fairness, transparency and efficiency
The Commission was set up in 2000 and reports to the UK, Welsh, and Scottish parliaments.
- This release forms part of the Commission’s regular monthly investigations update, an important part of its commitment to deliver transparency in political finance in the UK. Information of this nature is published routinely on the third Tuesday of each month. Details for sanctions from previous months are available.
- Penalties imposed by the Commission go into the Consolidated Fund. This is managed by HM Treasury and not the Electoral Commission.
Original article link: https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/media-centre/electoral-commission-closes-investigations-five-political-parties
