This House of Lords Library Briefing has been prepared in advance of the debate to take place on 13 September 2018 in the House of Lords on the motion moved by Lord Harries of Pentregarth that this House takes note of Part II of the Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014 and the effect it has had on third party election campaigning.
Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014 (320 KB, PDF)
The Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (the 2000 Act) sets out the rules on what third party, or non-party campaigners, can spend on regulated campaign activity in the run-up to certain elections. Organisations able to register under the 2000 Act as third parties includes bodies such as charitable companies and charitable incorporated organisations. Part 2 of the Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014 (the 2014 Act) amended the 2000 Act. Amongst its provisions, part 2 of the 2014 Act reduced the overall maximum expenditure limit, widened the range of activities on which expenditure had to be accounted for and increased the threshold for registration. Additionally, it introduced two new concepts: a constituency spending limit, which applies to spending aimed at one or more particular constituencies, and targeted spending, which covers campaign activity aimed at influencing voters to vote for a political party or any of its candidates. This Lords Library briefing provides further information on the 2014 Act and a discussion of reports and commentary that have discussed the operation of the 2014 Act and the effect that it has had on third party campaigners.
Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014 (320 KB, PDF)
Catch up on parliamentary and constitutional developments with a selection of articles you may have missed. Articles this month look at the politics of the campaign trial, and mark ten years since the referendum on the alternative vote electoral system.
A recent report by the Commission on Alcohol Harm highlighted the damage caused by alcohol abuse. Setting out a number of recommendations, it called for the Government to publish a new comprehensive alcohol strategy. This article provides a brief overview of the report and the Government’s current policy on alcohol.
Attendees at a United Nations (UN) summit more than 25 years ago defined an inclusive society as a “society for all”. Policy responses have been introduced in the years since, though questions remain about how progress can be measured. The Covid-19 pandemic has represented a setback towards realising the goal in many areas, but some have identified an opportunity to redouble efforts towards achieving ambitions in the pandemic’s wake.
