Committee on Standards in Public Life: Review of the Electoral Commission

R11-7

Published January 2007

Response position and delivery status are recorded separately. Acceptance does not establish implementation.

Recommendation (the Committee's words)
The Government should consider introducing a system of financial penalties, with an appropriate appeal mechanism, that could be applied by the Electoral Commission for non-compliance with the regulatory requirements. Responsibility for prosecution for criminal offences should continue to lie with the Crown Prosecution Service.

From: Committee on Standards in Public Life, Review of the Electoral Commission, January 2007

Government response

Government response (the government's words)
Sir Hayden Phillips reported in March 2007, outlining general principles upon which a reformed system of party funding might be agreed. Inter-party talks to discuss this further were suspended at the end of October as it was not possible to reach consensus. The Government is now considering what steps to take next. The Government agrees however with the general thrust of recommendations 2-8 above which will assist it greatly in its further consideration of these issues. The Government believes it is important for all political parties to understand the financial regulations under which they operate and to know that they will be enforced fairly and without favour, and agrees that the future role of the Commission must be that of an effective regulator.

From: HM Government. Source document ↗