Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of enforcement of electoral finance laws.
The Electoral Commission are the independent body which oversees elections and regulates political finance in the UK. In accordance with the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, the Commission have a range of supervisory and investigatory powers which enable them to monitor compliance with electoral finance laws proactively and enforce suspected offences.
The Government considers the existing enforcement framework suitable to ensure that the regime is effective but does not cause a chilling effect on electoral participation and campaigning.