Representation of the People Act 1983

[F1 3 (1) For the purposes of this Schedule sponsorship is provided in relation to a candidate if— U.K.

(a) any money or other property is transferred to the candidate or to any person for the benefit of the candidate, and

(b) the purpose (or one of the purposes) of the transfer is (or must, having regard to all the circumstances, reasonably be assumed to be)—

(i) to help the candidate with meeting, or to meet, to any extent any defined expenses incurred or to be incurred by or on behalf of the candidate, or

(ii) to secure that to any extent any such expenses are not so incurred.

(2) In sub-paragraph (1) above “defined expenses” means expenses in connection with—

(a) any conference, meeting or other event organised by or on behalf of the candidate,

(b) the preparation, production or dissemination of any publication by or on behalf of the candidate, or

(c) any study or research organised by or on behalf of the candidate.

(3) The following do not, however, constitute sponsorship by virtue of sub-paragraph (1) above—

(a) the making of any payment in respect of—

(i) any charge for admission to any conference, meeting or other event, or

(ii) the purchase price of, or any other charge for access to, any publication;

(b) the making of any payment in respect of the inclusion of an advertisement in any publication where the payment is made at the commercial rate payable for the inclusion of such an advertisement in any such publication.

(4) The Secretary of State may by order made on the recommendation of the Commission amend sub-paragraph (2) or (3) above.

[F2 (4A) But any modification of sub-paragraph (2) or (3) by order under sub-paragraph (4) has no effect in relation to local government elections in Scotland.]

(5) Any order under sub-paragraph (4) above shall be made by statutory instrument; but no such order shall be made unless a draft of the order has been laid before and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.

(6) In this paragraph “publication” means a publication made available in whatever form and by whatever means (whether or not to the public at large or any section of the public).]

Textual Amendments

F1 Sch. 2A inserted (30.11.2000 for certain purposes, otherwise 1.7.2001) by 2000 c. 41, ss. 130(3), 163(3)(d), Sch. 16 (with ss. 130(4), 156(6)); S.I. 2001/222, art. 4, Sch. 2 Pt. I (subject to transitional provisions in Sch. 2 Pt. II)

F2 Sch. 2A para. 3(4A) inserted (S.) (29.9.2021) by Scottish Elections (Reform) Act 2020 (asp 12), ss. 21(2)(a), 35; S.S.I. 2021/311, reg. 2, sch. (with reg. 3)