Representation of the People Act 1983

74 [F1 Expenses which may be paid otherwise than by election agent.] U.K.

(1) The candidate at an election may pay any personal expenses incurred by him on account of or in connection with or incidental to the election, but

[F2 (a)] the amount which a candidate at a parliamentary election may pay shall not exceed [F3 £600],.

[F4 (b) the amount which a candidate at an election of the Mayor of London may pay shall not exceed £5,000,

(c) the amount which a candidate at an election of a constituency member of the London Assembly may pay shall not exceed £600, and

(d) the amount which a candidate to be a London member of the London Assembly at an ordinary election may pay shall not exceed £900,

and, where paragraph (a), (b), (c) or (d) above applies],any further personal expenses so incurred by him shall be paid by his election agent.

[F5 (1A) In the application of subsection (1) above in relation to a person who is a candidate in two or more Authority elections those elections shall be treated—

(a) if one of them is an election of the Mayor of London, as if they together constituted a single election falling within paragraph (b) of that subsection, and

(b) in any other case, as if they together constituted a single election falling within paragraph (d) of that subsection.

[F6 (1B) The candidate at an election may also pay any election expenses (other than expenses falling within subsection (1) above) which were incurred by him or on his behalf and in respect of which payment falls to be made before the date on which he appoints (or is deemed to have appointed) an election agent.]

(2) The candidate shall send to his election agent within the time limited by this Act for sending in claims a written statement of the amount of [F7 expenses paid as mentioned in subsection (1) or (1B) above]by the candidate.

(3) Any person may, if so authorised in writing by the candidate’s election agent, pay any necessary expenses for stationery, postage, telegrams (or any similar means of communication) and other petty expenses, to a total amount not exceeding that named in the authority, but any excess above the total amount so named shall be paid by the election agent.

(4) A statement of the particulars of payments made by any person so authorised shall be sent to the election agent within the time limited by this Act for sending in claims, and shall be vouched for by a bill containing that person’s receipt.

[F8 (5) Sections 78 and 79 below do not apply to expenses which, in accordance with any provision of this section, are paid otherwise than by the candidate’s election agent.]]

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 74 sidenote substituted (1.7.2001) by 2000 c. 41, s. 138(1)(2), Sch. 18 para. 4(2) (with s. 156(6)); S.I. 2001/222, art. 4, Sch. 2 Pt. I (subject to transitional provisions in Sch. 2 Pt. II)

F2 Word “a” in s. 74(1) inserted (14.12.1999) by 1999 c. 29, s. 17, Sch. 3 para. 1, 18(2)

F3 "£600" substituted by Representation of the People Act 1985 (c. 50, SIF 42), s. 14(2)

F4 S. 74(1)(b)-(d) and words substituted (14.12.1999) for words by 1999 c. 29, s. 17, Sch. 3 para. 18 (with Sch. 12 para. 9(1)); S.I. 1999/3376, art. 2

F5 S. 74(1A) inserted (1.7.2001) by 1999 c. 29, s. 17, Sch. 3 para. 18(3) (with Sch. 12 para. 9(1)); S.I. 1999/3376, art. 2

F6 S. 74(1B) inserted (1.7.2001) by 2000 c. 41, s. 138(1)(2), Sch. 18 para. 4(3) (with s. 156(6)); S.I. 2001/222, art. 4, Sch. 2 Pt. I (subject to transitional provisions in Sch. 2 Pt. II)

F7 Words in s. 74(2) substituted (1.7.2001) by 2000 c. 41, s. 138(1)(2), Sch. 18 para. 4(4) (with s. 156(6)); S.I. 2001/222, art. 4, Sch. 2 Pt. I (subject to transitional provisions in Sch. 2 Pt. II)

F8 S. 74(5) inserted (1.7.2001) by 2000 c. 41, s. 138(1)(2), Sch. 18 para. 4(5) (with s. 156(6)); S.I. 2001/222, art. 4, Sch. 2 Pt. I (subject to transitional provisions in Sch. 2 Pt. II)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 74 applied (N.I.) by S.I. 1986/2250, regs. 2, 3, 5, Sch. 1 Pt. I

C2 S. 74 applied (E.W.S.) by S.I. 1986/2209, regs. 2, 3, 5(1)(6)–(8), Sch. 1 Pt. I

C3 S. 74 applied (with modifications) (1.8.2001) by S.I. 2001/2599, art. 3, Sch. 1 (as substituted (10.2.2009) by S.I. 2009/256, arts. 1(2), 3, Sch. 1)

C4 S. 74 applied (N.I.) (4.5.1996) by S.I. 1996/1220, art. 3(1)(b)(5)-(8), Sch. 1

C5 Ss. 73-90D restricted (W.) (4.12.2020) by The Local Government (Coronavirus) (Postponement of Elections) (Wales) (No. 2) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1399), regs. 2, 7(2) (with reg. 7(8))