EU Referendum: Electoral Law

Debate between Tom Brake and William Wragg

Tuesday 27th March 2018 Commons Chamber

[Tom Brake]

Yes, and I am sorry that there was laughter from the Government Benches. Members of Parliament, whether they supported remain or leave, should be interested in finding out whether the law has been broken. It should not be a subject of hilarity in the way that it seems to be for some Members on the Government Benches.

[Mr William Wragg (Hazel Grove) (Con)]

Will the right hon. Gentleman give way?

[Tom Brake]

I hope it will not be an hilarious intervention.

[Mr Wragg]

No, it is deadly serious. Can the right hon. Gentleman tell me the size of the fine the Liberal Democrats received from the Electoral Commission for breach of election law during the referendum campaign?

[Tom Brake]

I am happy to say that it was, I understand, £18,000. The slight difference, though, is that as a party we would love to be able to spend close to the spending limit in relation to election law, but as a party we are never able to. The allegation here is that the combination of Vote Leave and BeLeave spending broke the law, so the hon. Gentleman should wipe the smile off his face, focus on whether the law has been broken and treat the matter more seriously than he appears to be doing.