Electoral Commission
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Monthly update - concluded investigations
Details of investigations concluded in the last month have been published today by the Electoral Commission. This is an important part of delivering transparency in political finance in the UK.
Investigations where offences were found:
Name and type of regulated entity | What was investigated | Offences found | Decision taken |
Scottish Green Party (registered political party) | Failure to deliver accurate quarterly donations reports | Failure to deliver accurate quarterly donations reports | Seven variable monetary penalties totalling £5,349.75. Due for payment by 24 September |
Conservative and Unionist Party (registered political party) | Failure to deliver accurate quarterly donations reports | Failure to deliver accurate quarterly donations reports | Three variable monetary penalties totalling £4,400. Due for payment by 24 September |
Ian Paisley MP (regulated donee) | Failure to return donations from impermissible donors within 30 days of receiving them | Failure to return donations from impermissible donors within 30 days of receiving them | Two variable monetary penalties totalling £1,300. Due for payment by 8 October 2020 |
The Brexit Party (registered political party) | Failure to deliver an accurate quarterly donations report | Failure to deliver an accurate quarterly donations report | £200 fixed monetary penalty. Paid on receipt of initial notice on 24 August 2020 |
British Resistance (registered political party) | Late delivery of annual accounts (2018) | Late delivery of annual accounts (2018) | No sanction. Closed without further action |
Matt Hancock MP (registered donee) | Failure to return a donation from an impermissible donor within 30 days of receiving it | Failure to return a donation from an impermissible donor within 30 days of receiving it | No sanction. Closed without further action |
Veterans and People's Party (registered political party) | Late delivery of pre-poll donations and transactions reports ahead of 2019 UKPGE | Late delivery of pre-poll donations and transactions reports ahead of 2019 UKPGE | No sanction. Closed without further action |
“The reporting requirements are clear, so it is always disappointing when they are not met. It is vital that voters are given an opportunity to see accurate and timely data on how parties and campaigners are funded.
“The Commission will continue to enforce these requirements on all parties and campaigners to ensure that voters have the information they need.”
Investigations where no offences were found:
Name and type of regulated entity | What was investigated | Offences found | Decision taken |
Liberal Democrats (London accounting unit) | Failure to return a donation from an impermissible donor within 30 days | No offence | Closed without further action |
Prosper UK (registered political party) | Failure to deliver quarterly donations and transactions reports | No determination of offence | Closed without further action |
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
1. 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 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. Details for sanctions from previous months are available.
3. 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/monthly-update-concluded-investigations-9