Political Parties and Elections Bill

The Electoral Commission does not have blanket powers. It is accountable to Parliament via the Speaker’s Committee set up under the 2000 Act. It must also use the powers it has within the law. Clause 1 responds directly to the CSPL’s recommendations and is not at all at odds with those recommendations. It is in the Bill because the CSPL inquiry into the Electoral Commission decided that improvements could be made, and this is one of them.