Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Elections Act 2022: Regulation and Electoral Process

Thursday 8 September 2022 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Speaker's Committee has not made an assessment of the Elections Act 2022's effect on political party donations and finances.
  • The Commission believes the Act increases transparency in political funding and campaign spending visibility.
  • The Commission recommends new due diligence and risk assessment changes to prevent foreign money from entering UK politics.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Marion Fellows SNP
Democracy & Elections
Context

The Elections Act 2022 is under scrutiny for its potential effects on the regulation of political party donations, campaign expenditure, and overall electoral integrity.

Question

What recent assessment has the Committee made of the potential effect of the Elections Act 2022 on (a) the regulation of political party donations and finances, (b) campaign spending, and (c) the overall integrity of the electoral process?

Answer from Chris Matheson

The Speaker's Committee has not made an assessment. The Commission believes that the Elections Act makes limited changes to political party donations and finances, with new requirements for transparency in registration and digital imprints increasing campaign spending visibility. Changes enhance electoral integrity but may complicate third-party campaigners' regulations.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Committee has not made a formal assessment of the Act's impact on political party donations and finances, regulation of campaign expenditure, or overall electoral integrity.

How: Under Review, Limited Changes

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Q2 Marion Fellows SNP
Democracy & Elections Standards & Ethics
Context

A report by the Institute for Constitutional and Democratic Research suggests that the Elections Act weakens rules on overseas donations, making it easier for foreign entities to pay for influence. The questioner seeks confirmation if a donation cap has been considered.

Question

According to openDemocracy, between 2010 and 2019 the Tory party received £3.5 million from Russian-linked donors, yet instead of countering undue influence from oligarchs or shady think-tanks, the Elections Act weakens rules on donations from overseas. The new report by the Institute for Constitutional and Democratic Research has set out a simple remedy: cap all political donations to a level appropriate to the poorest. Will the representative of the Speaker's Committee confirm whether a donation cap has been considered?

Answer from Chris Matheson

The cap has not been considered in the Speaker's Committee. The Commission is committed to ensuring transparent political funding and preventing foreign money from entering UK politics, recommending new due diligence and risk assessment changes for parties and companies making donations.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No consideration of donation caps was made by either the Speaker's Committee or Electoral Commission.

How: Not Considered, Recommendations

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