Written Evidence Mar. 20 2024
Inquiry: Defending DemocracyFound: DED0016 - Defending Democracy Electoral Commission Written Evidence
Written Evidence Dec. 06 2023
Inquiry: Governance of artificial intelligence (AI)Found: GAI0129 - Governance of artificial intelligence (AI) Electoral Commission Written Evidence
Mentions:
1: None it came to more than £1.5 million.That said, the concept of notional spending and what it does for transparency - Speech Link
2: None One is about the genuine purpose of the campaigning. - Speech Link
3: None We think that that will add an awful lot of transparency, because it provides a base level of knowledge - Speech Link
4: Whitfield, Martin (Lab - South Scotland) of much of the evidence that we have heard today is that it benefits democracy to have consistency, transparency - Speech Link
5: None and no legal framework covers the contents of campaigning. - Speech Link
Correspondence Mar. 19 2024
Committee: Liaison Committee (Lords)Found: Transparency Q11.
Mentions:
1: Baroness Jones of Whitchurch (Lab - Life peer) it harder for some people to vote and to vastly increase the amount of money that can be spent on campaigning - Speech Link
2: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green - Life peer) What about an NGO campaigning to stop a proposed new nuclear power station, or a group campaigning for - Speech Link
3: None campaigning to diminish the trust the electorate has in the political system. - Speech Link
4: Lord Bassam of Brighton (Lab - Life peer) Given how young attainers could be, it would protect them from the unwarranted attentions of campaigning - Speech Link
5: Lord Bassam of Brighton (Lab - Life peer) As I recall, the ages are on the electoral register. - Speech Link
Written Evidence Mar. 26 2024
Inquiry: Defending DemocracyFound: Democracy Introduction Unlock Democracy campaigns on a range of democracy-related issues including: transparency
Feb. 29 2024
Source Page: Electoral Commission strategy and policy statementFound: Electoral Commission strategy and policy statement
Feb. 29 2024
Source Page: Electoral Commission strategy and policy statementFound: Electoral Commission strategy and policy statement
Asked by: Matt Vickers (Conservative - Stockton South)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that UK elections are not affected by political interference by (a) China and (b) other countries.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
It is, and always will be, an absolute priority for this government to protect our democratic and electoral processes against foreign interference.
Last year, the Prime Minister established the Defending Democracy Taskforce to protect the democratic integrity of the UK from threats of foreign influence. Its mission is to reduce the risk to the UK’s democratic processes, institutions and society, and ensure that these are secure and resilient to threats of foreign interference.
In addition, the National Security Act 2023 creates a new offence of foreign interference. This will make it an offence to illegitimately influence the UK’s democratic processes and elected officials on behalf of a foreign power. The offence will also significantly increase sentences for electoral offences if they are carried out on behalf of a foreign power. Related measures in the Online Safety Bill will require digital platforms to proactively take action against a wide range of state-sponsored disinformation and state-linked online interference, including digitally manipulated content, where this has the aim of interfering with UK elections.
The Elections Act 2022 strengthened three important components of the political finance framework: fairness, transparency and controls against foreign spending. Since its introduction, the Government has restricted foreign campaign spending at elections and introduced a new requirement on political parties to declare their assets and liabilities over £500 upon registration. Foreign donations (and channelling foreign money) are already illegal. The Act also ensures greater transparency on digital campaigning, through the introduction of digital imprints.
Mentions:
1: None I thank the Electoral Commission for drawing the Government’s attention to this point of law and for - Speech Link
2: None Lord also expresses regret in respect of the effect of increasing reporting thresholds on reducing the transparency - Speech Link
3: Lord Rennard (LD - Life peer) reach voters by current expense limits, and the effect of increasing reporting thresholds on reducing transparency - Speech Link
4: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green - Life peer) say what is often considered the unsayable: we need state funding of political parties and election campaigning - Speech Link
5: Lord Khan of Burnley (Lab - Life peer) expenses incurred to protect candidates, their families and supporters to be seen as part of the cost of campaigning - Speech Link