Kevin Hollinrake

Greater Manchester Police are currently reviewing allegations of electoral fraud at the Gorton and Denton by-election. The Commission is in close contact with the police and with the Returning Officer.

Once the review is concluded, the Commission will consider the outcome and any additional action needed.

The Commission has published guidance for political parties that are considering accepting cryptocurrency assets. It sets out that cryptoassets are considered property, which is in line with HMRC and Financial Conduct Authority guidance, and should be treated as a non-monetary donation.

It has always been a requirement for political parties to report the nature and value of non-monetary donations if they are greater than the reporting threshold (£11,800). The Commission’s updated guidance clarified that this applies to cryptoasset donations.

The Table Office cards questions which do not comply with the House’s rules of order. ‘Carding’ is essentially an invitation for the Member, or staff acting on their behalf, to call the Table Office to discuss and resolve the issue so the question can be swiftly tabled or, if necessary, withdrawn. The rules of order relating to questions are summarised in Chapter 22 of Erskine May which provides the basis on which questions are carded. The Office has various internal working documents and training materials providing guidance on operational matters including on questions, motions and the order paper.

The Commission does not disclose details of correspondence related to its investigations , so it would not be appropriate to confirm whether it received representations in relation to this matter.

Since 2021, the Commission has received 16 Freedom of Information requests relating to Labour Together.

The Commission receives a high volume of complex FOI requests, and therefore does not routinely publish all FOI responses on its disclosure log.

The Commission does not have a separate policy relating to the powers conferred to it in the Economic Crime and Transparency Act 2023. Its Enforcement policy sets out how it works with other regulatory bodies, and includes detail on sharing information.

It states that the Commission shares information with other regulatory bodies where it is able to and it is appropriate to do so. Where a matter under investigation includes an offence or offences where more than one enforcement body has an interest, it will liaise with other regulatory bodies or the police at the earliest possible stage to minimise duplication of investigative work.

If the market value in GBP of any cryptoasset received by a party or regulated donee is greater than £500, they must treat it as a donation and check the donor is permissible. If it is greater than the reporting threshold (£11,180), it must be reported to the Commission.

Donations in cryptoassets of £500 or less are outside the scope of electoral law and do not need to be recorded or reported.

The Electoral Commission does not hold a register of members associations, as there is no registration requirement for these groups. Members associations are subject to controls on the donations and loans they accept towards their political activities within their party.

Members associations must report to the Commission on any donations or loans they accept. Reports must be made within 30 days of accepting the donation or entering into the loan. These reports are published on the Commission’s website.

The Electoral Commission collects data on allegations of electoral fraud from all police forces across the UK, and publishes data on its website annually. Due to the way data is provided, it is broken down by police force, not by local authority. The Commission expects to publish 2025 electoral fraud data by the end of March.

The Commission’s guidance for candidates and agents includes an overview of electoral offences. It sets out that a person is guilty of treating if either before, during or after an election they directly or indirectly give or provide any food, drink, entertainment or provision to corruptly influence any voter to vote or refrain from voting. Treating requires a corrupt intent, and does not apply to ordinary hospitality.

Allegations of treating are a matter for the police; the Commission supports the College of Policing with its guidance for policing elections, which includes information on how offences such as treating are investigated.

The finances of an APPG are a matter for the officers of the group.

The Guide to the APPG Rules provides the following guidance:

80. APPG Secretariats must not hold APPG funds themselves, all funds must only be accessible by an officer (or officers) of the APPG.

81. Chairs are strongly advised to ensure that any money the group receives or holds is in a bank account in the name of the group and controlled by officers.

97. If an APPG chooses to disband, it must publish an income and expenditure statement within 28 days of the date on which the APPG was closed down.

The Electoral Commission has not used the powers conferred on it under the provisions in the Economic Crime and Transparency Act 2023, in relation to the Company House data.

During the cyber-attack in 2021-2022, hostile actors were active in the Electoral Commission’s systems which held our email, our control systems, and copies of the electoral registers. The Commission cannot be certain whether any data was copied or downloaded.

Information, evidence and analysis relating to investigatory matters, along with donations and loans data was held in a separate system not affected by the attack.

The Commission has now significantly strengthened its systems against cyber-attacks and has secured Cyber Essentials Plus accreditation.

In line with guidance issued by HMRC and the Financial Conduct Authority, donations in crypto assets are treated as non-monetary donations. Recipients are required to identify the nature of non-monetary donations. For crypto assets, this means identifying the type and amount of crypto asset. This will be underlined in the forthcoming update to the Commission’s guidance.

The Commission was first made aware of the UK Government’s proposals on the same day as the publication of the Secretary of State’s written ministerial statement on 4 December 2025.

The Electoral Commission’s guidance states that candidates must report all monetary and non-monetary donations they accept or return as impermissible, including donations in crypto assets. The Commission will shortly publish updated guidance for parties and candidates on the reporting and valuation of donations in crypto assets.

The House of Commons Commission has no responsibility for issuing such guidance.

It may be helpful to know that the Code of Conduct and Guide to the Rules on Registration does not directly reference crypto currencies.

Paragraphs 14 to 20 of the Guide to the Rules on Registration set out the requirements for registering donations under Category 2: Donations and other support for activities as a Member of Parliament.

Electoral Commission Guidance on political party donations and loans in Great Britain includes guidance on cryptoassets and says:

“The same rules apply to donations received in cryptocurrencies as any other donations. Sufficient information must be collected to check permissibility. There must be a means of valuing the donation given in any cryptocurrency.”
Political party donations and loans in Great Britain

The Electoral Commission was not consulted by the Government regarding the timing of mayoral elections in 2026.

The Commission’s view is that scheduled elections should only be postponed in exceptional circumstances. Voters must have a say on those that represent them at local government, and county council elections are still scheduled to take place in these areas in May 2026.

The Commission will work with the Government to better understand its plans for the polls so that it can support voters, campaigners and administrators to prepare.

The Electoral Commission has not been told that any further elections scheduled for May 2026 will be postponed, other than the elections for Surrey County and District councils. The Commission is working with the Government and will continue to support the electoral community as it prepares for scheduled elections in May 2026.

The Commission is required to report on its use of investigatory powers, including disclosure notices, investigation notices, and applications for inspection warrants. These are published in the Commission’s Annual Reports and Accounts.

The Commission has reported that it issued eight disclosure notices and 50 investigation notices since its investigatory powers came into force in December 2010. It has not applied for an inspection warrant. A breakdown by year is in the table below.

The Commission only uses its investigatory powers where it is satisfied that it is necessary and proportionate to do so. In most investigations, it receives relevant information on a voluntary basis.

The Government is committed to commencing Section 106 of the Equality Act 2010, requiring registered political parties to publish anonymised data relating to the diversity of their candidate selections.

Office for Equality and Opportunity officials are currently exploring when and how to commence the provision under Section 106, including the specifics with regards to data collection. Officials will consult with stakeholders, including political parties, in due course.

The Electoral Commission has had discussions with MHCLG officials about the proposals for local government reorganisation and the implications for elections.

The Commission has said that delaying elections for more than one year can affect the legitimacy of local decision making and risks damaging public confidence. Scheduled polls should only be postponed in exceptional circumstances when no alternative options are available.

The Commission understands the Government is working with councils on their reorganisation plans, and in the meantime, continues to support the electoral community as it prepares for the scheduled polls next May.

In February 2025, following the issuing of a statutory invitation to submit unitary proposals to all two-tier authorities, the Local Government Boundary Commission for England took the decision to pause all live reviews in those areas.

In total, 40 reviews have been paused as a result. No reviews have been cancelled as a result of local government reorganisation.

The Commission has had no discussions with the Government on the potential for cancellation or postponement of the local elections scheduled for May 2026.

The Electoral Commission's guidance for Electoral Registration Officer’s (EROs) sets out that someone may be eligible to register and to vote at more than one address if the ERO finds they meet the residency requirements, alongside the other usual registration conditions. When considering an application to register a person at a secondary address the ERO should take into account why the voter is present at that address, to establish if they may be deemed resident there. Each case should be considered on its own merits.

The Electoral Commission evaluated a small number of early voting pilots in Wales as part of the local council elections in May 2022. There are several potential integrity challenges presented by managing voting over multiple days. These include, ensuring ballot box security overnight and managing the risk of double voting risk.

During the pilots, the Electoral Commission found that Returning Officers and their teams managed risks well, working alongside the police. No concerns were raised with the Returning Officers in relation to the integrity of the polls in the pilot areas by the police or by political parties and candidates.

The Electoral Commission has issued guidance on the declarations required to Electoral Registration Officers. All electors must make a declaration that the contents of their application to register are true. This can include a declaration of local connection, if a person does not have a fixed or permanent address.

Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) are required by law to identify postal voters whose absent voting arrangements will expire on 31 January each year. These voters must be notified directly by the ERO that their current arrangement is ending and that they will need to submit a new postal vote application if they wish to continue voting by post.

While political parties are entitled to receive absent voting lists, the expiry date of a postal vote does not form part of the absent voting record. As such, there is no provision for EROs to share this information.

The Electoral Commission has had discussions with Government on its proposals for pilot voting schemes at the May 2026 local elections in England.

The Commission’s research shows people in the UK are generally happy with the current ways of voting in person at elections. But it is important to look at how to keep improving elections, to meet the changing needs of voters and to make sure voting is as convenient and accessible as possible.

The Commission will support local authorities taking part in the pilots as needed, and work to ensure voters are aware of the voting options available to them. It also has a statutory duty to independently evaluate and report on the May 2026 pilot schemes.

The last set of elections held under the supplementary vote electoral system were the local government and PCC elections in May 2021. The percentage of rejected ballot papers at those elections was higher than at elections using first past the post in the same year: 0.8% for the local government elections compared to 2.7% for the PCC and 4.3% for Mayor of London.

The Commission’s report following the elections noted that the number of rejected ballot papers for the Mayor of London election was notably higher than it had been at previous elections. The most significant difference compared to previous elections was the record 20 candidates which had led to a new two-column ballot paper design to accommodate electronic counting requirements. The report emphasised that clear and effective ballot paper design is essential to help voters cast their votes correctly. It recommended that alternative ballot paper designs should be tested in advance of future elections.

The Electoral Commission's guidance for Electoral Registration Officer's (EROs) sets out that someone may be eligible to register and to vote at more than one address if the ERO finds they meet the residency requirements, alongside the other usual registration conditions.

For local, Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) and mayoral elections, some voters may be entitled to vote in more than one area, provided the addresses are in different council, PCC or mayoral areas. This only applies to voters who have permanent residence in more than one location, for example students and those with multiple homes. In each case, voters may be able to demonsrate the extent to which the address is their permanent address. It is an offence for someone to cast more than one vote on their own behalf in a UK Parliamentary general election or referendum.

The main driver is spend related to a UK General Election. The figures referenced in Question 64449 were shared with HM Treasury and our funding parliaments as an overall estimate for the Commission’s spending over the next five years, prior to the Commission’s Corporate Plan being approved by Parliament.

Each year the Commission submits a Main Estimate for Parliamentary approval, and approval by the Scottish Parliament and Senedd, with a budget request for the forthcoming year. The Commission expects its spending to increase in the run up to the next UK parliamentary general election, which must be held by August 2029; it estimates an increase of £11.6 million from 2027-28 to 2028-29 to account for this general election spending.

The key driver for these costs are the public awareness campaigns that give voters the information they need to participate with confidence, alongside additional staff for the general election period and election related research projects. The Commission has a duty to promote public awareness, including awareness of any new changes introduced by Government. Typically, most of this spending falls in the year prior to a general election, because of the scale of work and the preparation required.

Given the exact timing of the next general election is uncertain, the Commission has built general increases into its planned spending, which can be adjusted as appropriate through the annual Main Estimate process.

The Commission encourages the UK’s governments to ensure that changes to electoral legislation are clear at least six months before voters, campaigners, or electoral administrators are expected to comply with them. This helps to ensure all stakeholders, including political parties, have sufficient notice and clarity on any subsequent changes.

The Electoral Commission provides updated guidance, support and advice for political parties and candidates to help them comply with political finance laws.

The spending limits for Scottish Parliament elections have not changed ahead of the 2026 elections. Ahead of these elections, the Commission has already published its guidance for parties, and plans to publish its guidance for candidates and agents in September.

The Welsh Government has introduced new spending limits for the Senedd elections, which were agreed by the Senedd in July. The Commission will publish its guidance for parties, candidates and agents in September.

Political parties may only accept donations, including donations in kind of research services, from permissible sources. However, there are currently no restrictions on where donors themselves raise funds. The Commission has highlighted this weakness in the political finance regime, and recommended changes that would safeguard the system.

The information requested is set out in the table below, together with the equivalent figures for the current Session to date.

*The 58th Parliament of the United Kingdom ran from 17 December 2019–30 May 2024, comprising four sessions.

The figures supplied in my earlier answer were obtained by establishing how many card e-mails were generated by the eQM question management system during the period in question. It is not possible to track individual questions in this way, so I am unable to say what proportion of carded questions were subsequently tabled or withdrawn.

Of the 60,136 questions tabled during the period in question, some 2,814 remain carded. Some 3,003 have been withdrawn by hon. Members, including questions that were withdrawn without being carded. It is not possible to establish what proportion of carded questions were subsequently withdrawn.

The Table Office cards questions which do not comply with the House’s rules of order. Most card queries are resolved quickly when the hon. Member who has tabled the question contacts the Table Office to discuss it. Where a question remains carded for a long period of time it is often because the hon. Member concerned has not responded to the card query.

The information requested, covering the period from 17 December 2019 to 16 December 2020, is as follows:

The Commission’s guidance for regulated donees sets out the reporting requirements for members associations.

Members associations are any type of organisation, including a limited company, whose membership wholly or mainly consists of members of one political party. There is no requirement for members associations which are limited companies to register with the Commission. Members associations must report to us any donations over £11,180 they receive towards their political activities within their party.

The Commission’s published guidance on donation permissibility, includes information on cryptocurrencies.

This guidance states that the controls which apply to donations of crypto assets are the same as the controls which apply to other types of donations. Donations must be from permissible sources and recipients must establish the value in pounds of donations at the time of receipt.

The Commission is currently reviewing this guidance so it can offer parties specific advice on handling donations of crypto assets, considering ongoing developments in the regulation of these assets.

The Electoral Commission’s five-year Corporate Plan was approved by Parliament in February 2025. The plan outlines the benefits that the Commission’s work and spending will deliver for voters, electoral administrators and political parties and campaigners. The plan can be found on the Commission’s website.

The Commission’s budget per financial year (Westminster funding) is as follows:

The Commission also has funding arrangements with the Scottish Parliament and Senedd Cymru for work related to devolved elections.

The Commission is fully committed to delivering value for money. It has recently made significant efficiency savings, including by sharing office space with the Local Government Boundary Commission for England. It has also achieved a 50% reduction in energy consumption at its London office, and a reduction in the cost of providing staff laptops.

The Commission will continue work with the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission to ensure Parliament and voters have confidence in the Commission’s finances.

The Commission’s guidance for political parties covers permissibility of donations from companies and unincorporated associations. If an organisation makes a donation on behalf of another source without disclosing the details of the original donor, this is likely to be an agency offence. The law places a responsibility on the recipient of a donation to ensure they are satisfied as to the identity of the donor, and that the donor is permissible

A company is a permissible donor if it is registered as a company at Companies House, is incorporated in the UK, and is carrying on business in the UK. An unincorporated association is permissible if it has more than one member, the main office is in the UK, and it is carrying on business or activities in the UK.

The Commission has highlighted that it remains possible for money from foreign sources to enter the UK electoral system, including through companies and unincorporated associations. There are no requirements for unincorporated associations to check that gifts they receive are from permissible sources, or on how company donations are funded. It has called for changes to ensure the system protects against foreign interference.

Each government, through the appropriate parliament, sets the spending limits for each relevant election. The Commission provides advice on the potential impact of any changes to the spending limits, and if necessary, consent. Any changes should be supported by rigorous analysis of relevant data and evidence to understand the likely impacts on parties and candidates, to maintain a level playing field, and on transparency and voter confidence. The Commission will monitor how recent changes made by governments function and their impact at the elections in 2026.

It is the role of individual parliaments to ratify their respective spending limits. The Commission offers proactive advice to the regulated community to ensure parties, campaigners and candidates understand the spending rules they must follow. It will update its guidance to reflect any changes.

The Electoral Commission provides guidance for all political parties. The guidance states that any service – including research – provided to a party for free or on non-commercial terms is a donation. If the market value is above £500, the donor must be permissible, and if the value is above the reporting threshold (£11,180 for donations to central parties, or £2,230 for donations to accounting units or subsequent donations from the same source), it must also be reported to the Commission.

If the party pays for the service, it would not be a donation.

The Supreme Court Judgment was clear that for the purposes of the Equality Act 2010, biological sex determines whether a person is a woman or not. Accordingly, in relation to the Equality Act 2010’s provisions allowing political parties to use all-women shortlists to increase the number of women standing for election, parties will need to have regard to the recent ruling. A political party wishing to use these Equality Act provisions will need to be satisfied that any such shortlists are lawful.

We regularly consult stakeholders, including the Equality and Human Rights Commission, on a range of issues, including where new guidance is proposed.

The Commission published a statement on 2 June on the day of publication of the report, welcoming the insights gathered by the Speaker’s Conference and their proposal for cross-cutting solutions.

The Commission is looking at how we can support implementation of the report’s proposals, in partnership with the wider electoral community, and how to improve our support for candidates and campaigners ahead of elections next May.