Electoral Administration Bill

moved Amendment No. 55:"Page 31, line 10, leave out ““““during the relevant period”””” and insert ““““after he becomes a candidate at that election””””" The noble Baroness said: In moving Amendment No. 55, I shall speak to Amendments Nos. 56 to 62 and 133 as well. The Government are tabling these amendments following robust debates in both your Lordships’ House and the other place. As I said in Grand Committee, the Government were not wedded to the four-month period, and I am pleased that we have worked together and achieved consensus on this issue. The issue we were trying to address by introducing the four-month period for candidates’ election expenses was that of unregulated spending taking place in advance of the candidate’s elections expenses period beginning, and not being counted towards the candidate’s limit. These amendments will revert back to the current situation in respect of the length of the candidate’s election expenses period. A candidate’s election expenses will count against his or her statutory expenditure limit from the point at which he or she becomes a candidate. In the case of a candidate at a general election, that is the period between the dissolution of Parliament and polling day. In the case of a local election, it is from the last date for publication of the notice of election until polling day. The amendments will not affect the useful provisions in Clauses 29 and 31 which clarify the scope of activity by unauthorised third parties under Section 75 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 and what counts as election expenses for candidates. We recognise that the Bill does not address the problem of unregulated amounts of money being spent by candidates in the months or weeks leading up to the point at which a general election is called. We know how much more sophisticated we have become in political campaigning and how much more effort we invest in campaigning in marginal seats. There is an issue about potentially large amounts of money being spent that cannot be recorded in the most appropriate way. We have not been able to come up with an early solution to the problem; noble Lords will know that I have been receptive to ideas from any part of your Lordships’ House and beyond. However, along with working towards a consensus with the parties and Members of the other place, we have talked to Sir Hayden Phillips who has been asked by the Prime Minister to conduct a review of party funding. It has been confirmed that Sir Hayden’s review will extend to looking at the expenses of parties and candidates during an election period. This approach makes sense, in that all facets of party funding and election spending will be examined across the piece. I am sure that with this comprehensive approach, we will be able to find a solution to the problem. I know, too, that Sir Hayden will welcome any input from noble Lords who wish to contribute to the review on this and other related matters. Therefore, we have removed the provisions from the Bill. I hope that noble Lords will accept that we have done this after listening to their views. We look forward to Sir Hayden’s recommendations. I beg to move.