Question

To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, whether the Committee has made an assessment of the (a) public's perception of the independence of the Commission and (b) potential impact of the Electoral Commission strategy and policy statement, published on 29 February 2024, on the public's perception of the Commission's independence.

The Commission publishes annual research on public attitudes to elections and democracy. In the latest study, published in April 2025, 52% of respondents said they trust the Commission to be an independent regulator. Historical data is available on the Commission's website.

The Commission strives to foster public trust in its independence and ensure it is clear for voters and campaigners to see. It remains opposed to the principle of a strategy and policy statement, by which a government can guide its work, because it could be used in ways that might damage political party or public trust.

In February 2025, the Commission reported to the Speaker's Committee on how it had had regard to the Strategy and Policy Statement, designated by the then-UK Government in Febrary 2024. The Commission balanced its duties and responsibilities as they related to the statement with the regard it gives to other factors, particularly the will, priorities and legislative agendas of the UK's three parliaments, and its statutory duties.