Source · Select Committees · Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
Second Report - The Work of the Electoral Commission
Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
HC 462
Published 20 October 2022
Recommendations
16
Rejected
Para 67
The Government should provide an update in its response to this report on the guidance...
Recommendation
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 …
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Government Response 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.
20
Rejected
We agree with the House of Lords Democracy and Digital Technologies Committee, and the Committee...
Recommendation
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 …
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Government Response 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.
Conclusions (1)
15
Conclusion
Rejected
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 …
Government Response 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.