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Four political parties in Northern Ireland have been fined a total of £8,000 by the Electoral Commission for failing to comply with party finance rules. Fines issued relate to the submission of spending returns at recent, major elections in Northern Ireland and regular reporting requirements.

Ann Watt, Head of the Electoral Commission in Northern Ireland, said: “The reporting requirements for political parties are clear, so it is disappointing that these parties have incurred multiple failures to provide accurate or complete information. Where the rules are not followed, transparency is lost and voters are deprived of information as to how campaigns have been funded.”

Northern Ireland First

Northern Ireland First has been fined £6,000 for failure to deliver four quarterly donations and loans reports, their 2016 statement of accounts and their spending return for the 2016 Northern Ireland Assembly election. The party was de-registered by the Commission in November 2017 for not renewing their annual registration status.

Conservative and Unionist Party (Northern Ireland)

The Conservative and Unionist Party, registered in Northern Ireland, has been fined £1,500 for late delivery of 2016 accounts and spending return for Northern Ireland Assembly election in 2017, as well as inaccurate spending return for Northern Ireland Assembly election in 2016.

The Workers Party

A fine of £1,300 has been issued to The Workers Party, registered in Northern Ireland, for late delivery of pre-poll reports for the 2017 UK Parliamentary General Election and spending return for Northern Ireland Assembly election in 2017. They have paid the fine.

Independent Network

Independent Network, a registered party in Northern Ireland,has been fined £500 for late delivery of quarterly donation and loans reports.

Further fines

A fine of £3,000 has been issued to Enact, now a de-registered political party in Great Britain, for failure or late delivery of statement of accounts, quarterly donations and loans reports and weekly donations and loans reports for 2017 UK Parliamentary General Election.

Details of fines, ranging from £200 to £800, imposed on nine other registered political parties and one unincorporated association were also released yesterday by the Commission.

This information has been published as part of the Commission’s regular monthly investigations update, an important part of its commitment to deliver transparency in political finance in the UK. The full monthly investigations update, which includes details on all of the Commission’s recently concluded investigations, can be found on our website here.

For more information, contact the Electoral Commission press office on 020 7271 0704 or press@electoralcommission.org.uk

Out of office hours 07789 920414

Notes to editors

1. The Electoral Commission is the independent body which oversees elections and regulates political finance in the UK. It works 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 and Scottish Parliaments.

2. 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. The full monthly investigations update, which includes details on all of the Commission’s recently concluded investigations, can be found on our website here: http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/our-work/roles-and-responsibilities/our-role-as-regulator-of-political-party-finances/sanctions
3. Penalties imposed by the Commission go into the Consolidated Fund. This is managed by HM Treasury and not the Electoral Commission.
4. Parties which do not exceed £250,000 in campaign expenditure must deliver their return within three months of the end of the relevant campaign period. Where expenditure exceeds £250,000 the return must be delivered to the Commission within six months and seven days of the end of relevant campaign period. This is set out under section 82(2) of PPERA.
5. When party’s income or expenditure does not exceed £250,000 they must deliver their statement of accounts within four months of end of financial year. This is set out under section 45(1) of PPERA.