Asked by: Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to raise the spending limits for candidates standing for (1) local authority, (2) mayoral, and (3) Parliamentary, elections in the UK.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
The Government uprated spending limits for candidates standing for local authority elections in England in December 2020.
As set out in the Written Ministerial Statements laid on 3 December 2020 from the Minister of State for the Constitution and Devolution, and Lord True, it is the Government’s intention to review party and candidate spending limits for all other polls (within the legislative competence of the UK Government) this year.
Asked by: Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to introduce legislation to prevent political parties and election candidates from issuing leaflets that pretend to be documents from official sources.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
Electoral law already provides that printed election literature by parties and candidates in a regulated election period must include an imprint. The Government will be extending this provision to digital materials, following recent consultations.
More broadly, free speech in a democracy often results in robust and lively debate. Critical comment, however presented, is an important check and balance on proposals by governments and municipal administrations to increase taxes on the people.
When the content and context of political argument is contested, the best remedy is further debate in an independent free press, rather than state vetting and censorship of political comment. We should then trust the people to make their own judgements on the merits of the case at the ballot box.
Asked by: Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the case for deferring the elections due to take place on 6 May until later in the year.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
Democracy should not be cancelled because of covid. The Government has confirmed that the set of local and Police and Crime Commissioner elections scheduled for May will go ahead, and made a firm commitment that the Government will support the sector to deliver them.
The Government has published a clear Delivery Plan for the May elections, setting out how the Government will support local elections teams to deliver effective polls that are covid-secure for voters and staff.
Further guidance for all those involved in the elections will be available in due course and well in advance of the polls.
To support the smooth running of the Police and Crime Commissioner and local elections, there will be an estimated £92 million of government funding that will be provided to Returning Officers and local authorities for the elections. Of this, £31 million is an uplift to address costs associated with making the polls covid-secure.
Asked by: Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the case for using postal votes only for the elections due to take place on 6 May.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
Democracy should not be cancelled because of covid. The Government has confirmed that the set of local and Police and Crime Commissioner elections scheduled for May will go ahead, and made a firm commitment that the Government will support the sector to deliver them.
The Government has published a clear Delivery Plan for the May elections, setting out how the Government will support local elections teams to deliver effective polls that are covid-secure for voters and staff.
Further guidance for all those involved in the elections will be available in due course and well in advance of the polls.
To support the smooth running of the Police and Crime Commissioner and local elections, there will be an estimated £92 million of government funding that will be provided to Returning Officers and local authorities for the elections. Of this, £31 million is an uplift to address costs associated with making the polls covid-secure.
Asked by: Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to postpone the elections scheduled for 6 May.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
Primary legislation states that the elections will go ahead in May 2021.
We continue to work closely with the electoral and public health bodies to resolve challenges and ensure everyone will be able to cast their vote safely and securely - and in a way of their choosing.
The Government is also bringing forward additional measures to extend the ability to appoint a proxy, so that those that are affected by Covid-19 in the days before the poll are still able to make their voice heard.
Guidance will be published in good time ahead of the polls and this matter will be kept under review. The House will be kept updated.
Asked by: Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment, if any, they have made of raising the recordable and reportable donation thresholds for registered political parties in the UK.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
I refer the noble Lord to the answer given to PQ HL9043 on 26 October 2020.
Asked by: Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment, if any, they have made of the effectiveness of the Electoral Commission.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
The Electoral Commission is independent of Government and accountable to Parliament via the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission.
The Government is committed to making sure that elections are secure and fit for the modern age. As part of this, we keep the Electoral Commission’s role and powers under review to ensure it is able to discharge its responsibilities effectively.
Asked by: Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to review the levels at which donations to political parties are recordable and reportable.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
UK electoral law sets out a stringent regime of donations controls to ensure that only those with a genuine interest in UK electoral events can donate to political parties and to ensure transparency of those donations.
All donations over £500 need to be recorded by political parties and checked for permissibility. Certain donations need to be reported to the Electoral Commission, including all donations from impermissible donors, all donations over £7,500 and donations that are over £1,500 and come from a source that parties have already reported in the same calendar year. To ensure transparency about party funding, donation reports are published by the Electoral Commission on its website.
The Government is committed to upholding the integrity of our electoral system. As part of that, we are taking forward a programme of work that will strengthen and update the UK’s electoral regulation to ensure it is fit for the modern age; provides a robust framework for campaign finance; and supports public confidence in our processes.
Asked by: Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what are the mechanisms used to ensure that the First Ministers of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are informed of actions being taken by the Government to address the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
The Government is working closely with the devolved administrations.
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, holds regular calls with the First Ministers of Scotland and Wales and the First Minister and deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland, and ministers from the devolved administrations will be invited to attend the Covid-Operations Committee on a weekly basis. This supplements wider joint working by ministers and officials. The purpose is not simply to ‘ensure that the First Ministers of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are informed of actions being taken by the Government’ but to share best practice and data, coordinate action and work together as set out in the Joint Statement of 25 September.