Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill

Debate between Baroness Liddell of Coatdyke and Lord Glentoran

Wednesday 15th December 2010 Lords Chamber

[Lord Glentoran]

I just wonder if the biggest lump of money that has interfered with elections over many years has been that of the large trade unions. They come together as a bulk with a huge amount of money, bigger than that of any individual.

[Baroness Liddell of Coatdyke]

Could the noble Lord address something very specific that I suspect will happen? If a wealthy person domiciled in Monaco buys up all the billboards in Scotland for example as part of his or her campaign for or against the question in the referendum, what means are there of accounting for it one way or another? Is there a transparent way that it can be accounted for as the noble Lords, Lord Howarth and Lord Campbell-Savours, have asked? It is not a mischievous question—it is an issue that could arise.