Monthly update - concluded investigations

15 Feb 2022 11:21 AM

Details of the investigations concluded in the last month have been published by the Electoral Commission. This is an important part of delivering transparency in political finance in the UK.

Name and type of regulated entity	What was investigated	Offences found	Decision taken
Conservative and Unionist Party GB (registered political party)	Permissibility of donations	No offence found	Closed without further action
Conservative and Unionist Party NI (registered political party)	Late delivery of annual statement of accounts	No offence found	Closed without further action
Liberal Democrats (registered political party	Failure to deliver compliant spending return for 2019 European Parliamentary Election	Failure to deliver compliant spending return for 2019 European Parliamentary Election	No sanction imposed. Closed without further action
Liberal Democrats (registered political party	Permissibility of donations	No offence found	Closed without further action
Reform UK (registered political party)	Failure to deliver compliant spending return for 2019 European Parliamentary Election	Failure to deliver compliant spending return for 2019 European Parliamentary Election	No sanction imposed. Closed without further action

Commenting on the concluded investigations, Louise Edwards, Director of Regulation, said:

“Compliance with the political finance laws is important in ensuring transparency in the system. It is right that where there are reasonable grounds to suspect an offence, we investigate to establish whether or not one took place. Finding that no offence took place indicates compliance with the law, which we welcome.

“Where we find offences have been committed, we do not automatically impose sanctions. We take into consideration a range of factors when reaching 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

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, Welsh, 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