Question

To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what guidance the Electoral Commission has issued on political donations (a) from impermissible foreign donors and (b) funnelling money to avoid political donation restrictions.

The Commission provides guidance and support for parties and campaigners to ensure they understand and comply with donation laws.

Its guidance sets out the requirements and checks necessary when accepting donations. Parties and campaigners are responsible for carrying out checks on donations they receive to ensure they are from permissible sources, and for properly and accurately reporting them.

The guidance makes clear that the law requires political parties to report unlawful donations and return them to the donor. It also explains that parties must not knowingly or recklessly make a false declaration about the true origin of the donation.

As well as issuing guidance, the Commission carries out permissibility checks on a sample of donations. It has the powers to sanction parties that accept impermissable foreign donations or do not comply with the political finance laws.