Election expenditure

This page highlights some of the current parliamentary material available on election expenditure. This includes select committee reports, briefing papers on current legislation and other subjects produced by the parliamentary research services, and the latest Early Day Motions put down by MPs.

Standard Notes

DateDescription
20.01.2010In Brief: General election - candidate spending limits
The Political Parties and Elections Act 2009 introduced a new expenditure limit for candidate spending - the pre-candidacy expenditure limit which will apply to general election candidates from January 2010. In addition candidate expenditure limits apply during the formal election campaign, that is the period from the dissolution of Parliament to the general election. This note gives details, in brief, of what these limits are and how they are determined.
16.12.2009Election expenditure controls
This Note summarises the controls which apply to political parties and to candidates under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, the Political Parties and Elections Act 2009 and the Representation of the People Act 1983. At present each national party is allowed to spend £30,000 per constituency at a general election for the Commons, up to a maximum of £810,000 in England; £120,000 in Scotland; or £60,000 in Wales, or in Northern Ireland.
01.12.2009Pre-candidacy election expenditure limits
This note discusses the new pre-candidacy expenditure limit introduced by the The Political Parties and Elections Act 2009. This will apply to general election candidates from January 2010. The limit is additional to the election expense limits which apply to candidates during the general election campaign and to the limits on national party spending.
18.03.2005Election expense limits
This note details the spending limits imposed on parties and candidates in general election campaigns.

Research Papers

DateDescription
16.12.2008Political Parties and Elections Bill: Committee Stage Report
This is a report on the Committee Stage of the Political Parties and Elections Bill 2007-08 produced in response to a recommendation of the Modernisation Committee in its report on The Legislative Process (HC 1097, 2005-06). The Bill has been reintroduced as Bill 4 of 2008-09 and is awaiting a date for report stage in the Commons.
30.09.2008The Political Parties and Elections Bill
This Research Paper looks at the Political Parties and Elections Bill, it includes impacts on the Electoral Commission and political donations and expediture.
29.03.2001Election Publications Bill (HL) (Bill 41 of 2000-01)
Election Publications Bill (HL) (Bill 41 of 2000/01). House of Commons Library Research Paper 01/40.
07.01.2000Political Parties Elections and Referendums Bill - donations (Bill 34 1999/2000)
The Political Parties Elections and Referendums Bill - donations (Bill 34 of 1999/2000). House of Commons Library Research Paper 00/2.

Standard Notes

DateDescription
20.01.2010In Brief: General election - candidate spending limits
The Political Parties and Elections Act 2009 introduced a new expenditure limit for candidate spending - the pre-candidacy expenditure limit which will apply to ...
16.12.2009Election expenditure controls
This Note summarises the controls which apply to political parties and to candidates under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, the Political ...
01.12.2009Pre-candidacy election expenditure limits
This note discusses the new pre-candidacy expenditure limit introduced by the The Political Parties and Elections Act 2009. This will apply to general election ...
16.07.2008Third parties donations and expenditure: regulation by PPERA
This Note gives a brief guide to the rules governing campaigning by third parties or pressure groups in elections. The Political Parties, Elections and Referendum ...
18.03.2005Election expense limits
This note details the spending limits imposed on parties and candidates in general election campaigns.

Research Papers

DateDescription
16.12.2008Political Parties and Elections Bill: Committee Stage Report
This is a report on the Committee Stage of the Political Parties and Elections Bill 2007-08 produced in response to a recommendation of the Modernisation Committee ...
30.09.2008The Political Parties and Elections Bill
This Research Paper looks at the Political Parties and Elections Bill, it includes impacts on the Electoral Commission and political donations and expediture.
29.03.2001Election Publications Bill (HL) (Bill 41 of 2000-01)
Election Publications Bill (HL) (Bill 41 of 2000/01). House of Commons Library Research Paper 01/40.
07.01.2000Political Parties Elections and Referendums Bill - referendums and broadcasting (Bill 34 1999/2000)

Glossary

  • Research Papers (RP) - briefings produced by the House of Commons Library on Bills, topical issues and regular statistics
  • Standard Notes (SN) - shorter, topical briefings from the Commons Library
  • Early Day Motions (EDMs) - formal motions submitted by MPs in the House of Commons
  • POST Notes - short briefing notes produced by the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology
  • Lords Library Notes (LLN) - papers compiled by the House of Lords Library on Bills and for debates in the Lords