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Select Committee · Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee

The Work of the Electoral Commission

Status: Closed Opened: 16 Jun 2021 Closed: 1 May 2023 14 recommendations 17 conclusions 1 report

The Electoral Commission is an independent body set up under statute to oversee elections, regulate political finance in the UK and who work to promote public confidence in the democratic process. The Committee’s predecessor recommended that it “should carry out an inquiry into the role and effectiveness of the Electoral Commission.” Read the call for …

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Second Report - The Work of the Electoral Commission HC 462 20 Oct 2022 31 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

2 items
9 Recommendation Second Report - The Work of the Elector… Accepted in Part

The Committee believes, regardless of the complexity of the legislation, it is vital that the...

The Committee believes, regardless of the complexity of the legislation, it is vital that the Electoral Commission has sufficient internal expertise to clarify ambiguities in the law or guidance in a timely manner, particularly during regulated periods. The Electoral Commission should report back to the Committee on the viability of …

Government response. The government notes that the recommendations are primarily addressed to the Electoral Commission but will consider expanding the Strategy and Policy Statement to specify parties and campaigners of all sizes for feedback on guidance.
22 Recommendation Second Report - The Work of the Elector… Accepted in Part

The responsibilities of multiple regulators in the digital space interlock with the Electoral Commission’s role...

The responsibilities of multiple regulators in the digital space interlock with the Electoral Commission’s role to regulate money spent on political campaigning. The Government’s draft Strategy and Policy Statement for the Electoral Commission encourages cooperation between regulators to avoid duplication but does not provide any detail on how this can …

Government response. The government agrees that cooperation between regulators is important and highlights existing information-sharing powers and roundtables, but does not propose mandating advert libraries or criteria for them.

Oral evidence sessions

7 sessions
Date Witnesses
7 Dec 2021 Bob Posner · The Electoral Commission, John Pullinger CB · Electoral Commission View ↗
20 Jul 2021 Chloe Hardy · Sheila McKechnie Foundation, Chris Weavers · NASUWT The Teachers' Union, Dave Timms · Friends of the Earth, Dr Jess Garland · Electoral Reform Society, Dr Rowan Popplewell · Bond, Peter Geoghegan · openDemocracy, The Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts CBE · House of Lords View ↗
29 Jun 2021 Alan Mabbutt · Conservative Party, Amy Killen · Women’s Equality Party, Andrew Whyte · Labour Party, Geraint Day · Plaid Cymru, Jon Nott · Green Party of England and Wales, Richard Tice · Reform UK, Scott Martin · Scottish National Party, The Rt Hon. the Lord Tyler · Liberal Democrats View ↗
25 May 2021 Alan Halsall · Vote Leave, Barry Ryan · Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage of the Republic of Ireland, Dr Alan Renwick · Constitution Unit, University College London, Paul Comer · Britain Stronger in Europe, Rt Hon Dominic Grieve QC, Scott Martin · Scottish National Party, The Rt Hon. the Baroness Stuart of Edgbaston View ↗
27 Apr 2021 Dr Holly Ann Garnett, Dr Theresa Reidy, Professor Pippa Norris View ↗
9 Mar 2021 Dr Alistair Clark, Dr Kate Dommett, Professor Toby James · University of East Anglia View ↗
2 Jul 2020 Ailsa Irvine · Electoral Commission, Bob Posner · The Electoral Commission, Louise Edwards · Electoral Commission View ↗

Correspondence

5 letters
DateDirectionTitle
15 Nov 2022 From cttee Letter to Shaun McNally, CEO, Electoral Commission on the work to replace the E…
1 Nov 2022 To cttee Letter from Shaun McNally CBE, CEO The Electoral Commmission on the work to rep…
20 Oct 2022 To cttee Letter from Rt Hon Andrew Stephenson MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State…
2 Sep 2020 To cttee Letter from Bob Posner, Electoral Commission on follow-up evidence after 2.7.20…
21 Jul 2020 From cttee Letter to Bob Posner, Chief Executive, Electoral Commission on follow-up writte…