Written Evidence Apr. 26 2024
Committee: Treasury Committee (Department: HM Treasury)Found: and subsequently killed in Russian prison in February 2024, shortly before the sham March 2024 elections
Written Evidence Apr. 26 2024
Committee: Treasury Committee (Department: HM Treasury)Found: A possible success of parties close to the Kremlin regime in the forthcoming European elections
Apr. 26 2024
Source Page: Minister Whately speech on social careFound: going to be able to take questions today because we’re in the Purdah period in the run up to the local elections
Report Apr. 26 2024
Committee: Statutory Instruments (Joint Committee)Found: Title S.I. 2024/245 Code of Practice (Picketing) Order 2024 S.I. 2024/297Police and Crime Commissioner Elections
Found: is included on international risk r egisters due to its perceived potential to undermine democratic elections
Mentions:
1: Nickie Aiken (Con - Cities of London and Westminster) Dickon Mitchell defeated the incumbent, Keith Mitchell, who was seeking his sixth term, in the 2022 elections - Speech Link
Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)
Question
To ask the hon. Member for Lancaster and Fleetwood, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, with reference to the Electoral Commission's guidance entitled Reporting candidate spending in the long campaign for a UK Parliamentary general election, published on 6 March 2024, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the changes from the guidance published ahead of the 2015 general election; and whether the Commission consulted political parties during the development of the revised guidance.
Answered by Cat Smith
The Commission sought external legal advice on the requirement for the reporting of spending during the long campaign, after receiving feedback from political parties. That advice differed from the position established by the Commission. The Commission is now in the process of reflecting that advice in its guidance.
The Commission has a responsibility to provide guidance for political parties and campaigners which helps them meet their legal obligations. It considers the impact that changes to its guidance have on its regulated community, but has a duty to accurately reflect the law.
The Commission has a constructive relationship with the party panels, and it regularly consults on key areas of its work, both formally and informally. The Commission always welcomes feedback from political parties on areas where it can better help them meet their legal obligations.
Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)
Question
To ask the hon. Member for Lancaster and Fleetwood, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, with reference to the Electoral Commission's guidance, Reporting candidate spending in the long campaign for a UK Parliamentary general election, what the evidential basis is for the assertion that an item of candidate spending provided by a party counts towards both (a) the long campaign spending limit for a candidate and (b) the party spending limit; how the treatment of notional expenditure and agent-authorised expenditure differs; and whether the Commission has made an assessment of the potential impact on party spending limits.
Answered by Cat Smith
The Electoral Commission’s guidance aims to support campaigners to meet their obligations which are set by the UK’s complex political finance laws. It develops guidance based on legal advice and interpretation of these laws.
The Commission sought additional external legal advice on reporting of spending during the long campaign and is in the process of reflecting that legal advice in guidance.
The guidance will provide clarity on the parts of the candidate spending laws that impact how a candidate should report spending in the long campaign.
It will also clarify that there is a requirement for a candidate return for spending during the long campaign and therefore spending is not reportable in a party return.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, whether his Department monitors the role of external state actors in influencing electoral outcomes in the EU.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
International partners, including in the EU, could be at risk of attempts by foreign states to interfere in elections. Collaboration with international partners, including in the EU, is an essential part of countering these risks. Through the UK's Defending Democracy Ministerial Taskforce, FCDO officials have engaged with partners, including Austria, Romania, and France, to share best practice and identify opportunities for future joint work to build resilience against interference in our democratic processes. FCDO regularly updates to the Taskforce's Ministerial meetings on key risks, learnings, and responses from international elections to inform the UK's election preparations. The UK will continue to engage with international partners.
Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)
Question
To ask the hon. Member for Lancaster and Fleetwood, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, with reference to the Electoral Commission's guidance, Reporting candidate spending in the long campaign for a UK Parliamentary general election, whether it is a requirement for a candidate to publish a candidate spending return for the long campaign; and what guidance the Commission has provided to hon. Members on that issue.
Answered by Cat Smith
It is a requirement for candidates to provide any candidate spending during the long campaign in a return to their Returning Officer.
The Commission provides guidance for all candidates to help them meet their legal obligations, which is applicable to those Hon. Members seeking re-election at the next UK parliamentary general election.
It also provides additional bespoke advice and support to Hon. Members and their staff, as it does for all other political parties, campaigners and candidates.