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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 … Show more

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

3 items
15 Conclusion Second Report - The Work of the Elector… Rejected

The Committee recognises the potential gaps in transparency and weaknesses in the permissibility checks on...

The Committee recognises the potential gaps in transparency and weaknesses in the permissibility checks on donations to prevent foreign influence in UK politics, particularly through unincorporated associations (UAs). However, we also note the important role that UAs play in supporting democracy through fundraising. It is vital that any further reporting … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government states that it has no plans to produce guidance on donations, referencing the existing legal framework and Electoral Commission guidance, and arguing any additional guidance would need careful consideration.
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16 Recommendation Second Report - The Work of the Elector… Rejected

The Government should provide an update in its response to this report on the guidance...

The Government should provide an update in its response to this report on the guidance it said it was considering in its response to the Committee on Standards in Public Life’s Regulating Election Finance Report, that would support campaigners to take a “risk- based” approach to donations, similar to the … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government has no plans to produce guidance on a "risk-based" approach to donations, stating that the existing legal framework and Electoral Commission guidance are sufficient, and that additional guidance would need careful consideration.
Read full response →
20 Recommendation Second Report - The Work of the Elector… Rejected

We agree with the House of Lords Democracy and Digital Technologies Committee, and the Committee...

We agree with the House of Lords Democracy and Digital Technologies Committee, and the Committee on Standards in Public Life, that the maximum fine the Electoral Commission can impose for breaches of Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 should be increased to £500,000 or 4% of total campaign spend, … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government considers the existing levels of penalties available to the Commission suitable and argues that any extension to the Commission’s fining powers would need to be considered carefully to assess the necessity and proportionality.
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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 ↗

Who gave evidence

31 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Bob Posner · Chief Executive The Electoral Commission 2
Scott Martin · Solicitor Scottish National Party 2
Ailsa Irvine · Director of Electoral Administration and Guidance Electoral Commission 1
Alan Halsall · Former Responsible Person Vote Leave 1
Alan Mabbutt · Registered Treasurer and Legal Officer Conservative Party 1
Amy Killen · Campaigns Manager Women’s Equality Party 1
Andrew Whyte · Acting Director of Governance and Legal Labour Party 1
Barry Ryan · Principal Officer, Franchise Unit Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage of the Republic of Ireland 1
Chloe Hardy · Director of Policy and Communications Sheila McKechnie Foundation 1
Chris Weavers · National Official Campaigns, Policy and Communica… NASUWT The Teachers' Union 1
Dave Timms · Head of Political Affairs Friends of the Earth 1
Dr Alan Renwick · Deputy Director Constitution Unit, University College London 1
Dr Alistair Clark — 1
Dr Holly Ann Garnett — 1
Dr Jess Garland · Director of Policy and Research Electoral Reform Society 1
Dr Kate Dommett — 1
Dr Rowan Popplewell · Policy Manager, civic space Bond 1
Dr Theresa Reidy — 1
Geraint Day · Deputy Chief Executive and Head of Campaigns Plaid Cymru 1
John Pullinger CB · Chair Electoral Commission 1
Jon Nott · Treasurer Green Party of England and Wales 1
Louise Edwards · Director of Regulation Electoral Commission 1
Paul Comer · Former Compliance Director Britain Stronger in Europe 1
Peter Geoghegan · Investigations Editor openDemocracy 1
Professor Pippa Norris — 1
Professor Toby James · Professor of Politics and Public Policy University of East Anglia 1
Richard Tice · Leader Reform UK 1
Rt Hon Dominic Grieve QC — 1
The Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts CBE · Member House of Lords 1
The Rt Hon. the Baroness Stuart of Edgbaston — 1
The Rt Hon. the Lord Tyler · Spokesperson on Political & Constitutional Reform Liberal Democrats 1

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…