Political Parties and Elections Bill

The Political Parties and Elections Bill will strengthen the regulatory role of the Electoral Commission, introduce greater transparency of political donations, and strengthen the arrangements for regulating candidate expenditure. The Bill also makes two reforms to improve the administration of elections in the UK.

The White Paper on Party Finance and Expenditure, published on 16 June 2008, set out the government's broad support for long term, fundamental reform of party finance and expenditure based on the framework put forward by Sir Hayden Phillips' independent review of party funding in 2007. It also signalled the government's intention to bring forward immediate legislation to tighten controls on spending by parties and candidates. The Political Parties and Elections Bill delivers that legislation.