Oral Answers to Questions

Bridget Phillipson Excerpts
Thursday 25th July 2019

(4 years, 8 months ago)

Commons Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Alan Brown Portrait Alan Brown (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP)
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

3. What recent discussions she has had with the commission on reporting spending on digital campaigning in elections.

Bridget Phillipson Portrait Bridget Phillipson (Houghton and Sunderland South)
- Hansard - -

Transparency around spending on campaigning at elections helps voters to have confidence that campaigners follow the rules and limits on spending. Earlier this week, the Electoral Commission presented to Government statutory codes of practice on candidate and political party spending. If enacted, these codes will provide further clarity and consistency in reporting election spending, including on digital campaigning.

Alan Brown Portrait Alan Brown
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

I thank the hon. Lady for that answer. That concurs with reports from the Select Committee on Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and the Electoral Commission, which are clear that the law on digital political advertising badly needs updating. Some people have called for a database of online political ads, giving full information on content, target and reach, and spend. That should guarantee transparency. Is the hon. Lady aware of measures being taken to reform the law, and does she share my concern that so many people from Vote Leave who abused the system are now in the UK Government?

Bridget Phillipson Portrait Bridget Phillipson
- Hansard - -

The social media companies’ voluntary ad libraries and reports are useful tools in monitoring who is spending money on elections and other political campaigning. In its response to the online harms consultation, the commission recommended that the new regulator ensure common standards and obligations on what social media companies publish about political adverts and that there be significant sanctions if companies do not publish meaningful information.

Chris Heaton-Harris Portrait Chris Heaton-Harris (Daventry) (Con)
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

Following the exoneration of Darren Grimes in a recent court case, what confidence does the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission have in the commission?

Bridget Phillipson Portrait Bridget Phillipson
- Hansard - -

In the past four years, the commission has carried out approximately 450 investigations into a variety of electoral offences. The results of five of these have been challenged in the courts, and the recent appeal is the only challenge that has been upheld. The commission will review the full written detail of the judgment once it is made public, before deciding on next steps, including any appeal.

The right hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington, representing the House of Commons Commission, was asked—