Representation of the People Act 1983 (c. 2)

Part II U.K. The Election Campaign

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Pt. 2 (ss. 67-119) applied with modifications (E.W.) by The Parish and Community Meetings (Polls) Rules 1987 (S.I. 1987/1), Rules, 2, 6

Pt. 2 (ss. 67-119) applied with modifications (E.W.) by The Local Elections (Parishes and Communities) Rules 1986 (S.I. 1986/2215), Rules 2, 9 (which S.I. was revoked (2.1.2007) by S.I. 2006/3305, rule 1(4), Sch. 1)

C2 Pt. 2 modified (E.W.) (2.1.2007 for certain purposes) by The Local Elections (Parishes and Communities) (England and Wales) Rules 2006 (S.I. 2006/3305), rules 1(2)(3), 6

Election expenses U.K.

76 Limitation of election expenses. E+W

[F1 (1) The election expenses incurred by or on behalf of a candidate at an election must not in the aggregate exceed the maximum amount specified in subsection (2) below or, in the case of any of the Authority elections mentioned in subsection (2A)(a) to (c) below, the maximum amount prescribed by order under that subsection.]

[F2 (1A) Where a registered political party submits a list of candidates to be London members of the London Assembly at an ordinary election, [F3 any election expenses incurred by or on behalf of any of those candidates must not in the aggregate exceed the maximum amount prescribed by order under subsection (2A)(d).]]

[F4 (1B) Where any election expenses are incurred in excess of a maximum amount specified in subsection (2)above or prescribed by order under subsection (2A) above, any candidate or election agent who—

(a) incurred, or authorised the incurring of, the election expenses, and

(b) knew or ought reasonably to have known that the expenses would be incurred in excess of that maximum amount,

shall be guilty of an illegal practice.]

(2) That maximum amount is—

(a) for a candidate at a [F5 parliamentary general election, being an election]—

(i) in a county constituency, [F6 £5,483] together with an additional [F6 6.2p] for every entry in the register of electors F7 . . . and

(ii) in a borough constituency, [F8 £5,483] together with an additional [F8 4.6p] for every entry in the register of electors F9 . . .

[F10 (aa) for a candidate at a parliamentary by-election, £100,000;]

(b) for a candidate at a local government election [F11 other than an Authority election]—

F12 (i) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F13 (ia) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(ii) at any other local government election, [F14 £242] together with an additional [F14 4.7p] for every entry in the register of electors F9 . . ..

[F15 (2A) As respects Authority elections, each of the following, that is to say—

(a) the maximum amount for a candidate in an election of the Mayor of London,

(b) the maximum amount for a candidate in an election of a constituency member of the London Assembly,

(c) the maximum amount for an individual candidate in an election of the London members of the London Assembly at an ordinary election,

(d) the maximum amount for the purposes of subsection (1A) above,

shall be such as the Secretary of State may prescribe in an order made by statutory instrument.

(2B) An order under subsection (2A) above shall not be made unless a draft of the order has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament.]

F16 (3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F17 (4) In subsection (2) above “the register of electors” means the register of parliamentary electors, or (as the case may be) local government electors, for the constituency or electoral area in question as it has effect on the last day for publication of notice of the election.]

(5) The maximum amount mentioned above for a candidate at a parliamentary election [F18 or an Authority election (including the maximum amount for the purposes of subsection (1A) above)] is not required to cover the candidate’s personal expenses.

(6) Where at an election a poll is countermanded or abandoned by reason of a candidate’s death, the maximum amount of election expenses shall, for any of the other candidates who then remain validly nominated, be twice or, if there has been a previous increase under this subsection, three times what it would have been but for any increase under this subsection; but the maximum amount shall not be affected for any candidate by the change in the timing of the election or of any step in the proceedings at the election.

Extent Information

E1 This version of this provision extends to England and Wales only; separate versions have been created for Scotland and Northern Ireland only.

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 76(1) substituted (1.7.2001) by 2000 c. 41, s. 132(2)(6) (with s. 156(6)); S.I. 2001/222, art. 4, Sch. 2 Pt. I (subject to transitional provisions in Sch. 2 Pt. II)

F2 S. 76(1A) inserted (14.12.1999) by 1999 c. 29, s. 17, Sch. 3 para. 20(2); S.I. 1999/3376, art. 2

F3 Words in s. 76(1A) substituted (1.7.2001) by 2000 c. 41, s. 132(3)(6) (with s. 156(6)); S.I. 2001/222, art. 4, Sch. 2 Pt. I (subject to transitional provisions in Sch. 2 Pt. II)

F4 S. 76(1B) inserted (1.7.2001) by 2000 c. 41, s. 132(4)(6) (with s. 156(6)); S.I. 2001/222, art. 4, Sch. 2 Pt. I (subject to transitional provisions in Sch. 2 Pt. II)

F5 Words substituted by Representation of the People Act 1989 (c. 28, SIF 42), s. 6(1)(a)

F6 words in s. 76(2)(a)(i) substituted (5.3.2001) by S.I. 2001/535, art. 2

F7 Words in s. 76(2) repealed (16.2.2001) by 2000 c. 2, ss. 8, 15, Sch. 1 para. 18(2); S.I. 2001/116, art. 2

F8 Words in s. 76(2)(a)(ii) substituted (5.3.2001) by S.I. 2001/535, art. 3

F9 Words in s. 76(2) repealed (16.2.2001) by 2000 c. 2, ss. 8, 15, Sch. 1 para. 18(2); S.I. 2001/116, art. 2

F10 S. 76(2)(aa) substituted (16.2.2001) by 2000 c. 41, s. 132(5)(6); S.I. 2001/222, art. 2, Sch. 1 Pt. I (subject to transitional provisions in Sch. 1 Pt. II)

F11 Words in s. 76(2)(b) inserted (14.12.1999) by 1999 c. 29, s. 17, Sch. 3, para. 20(3); S.I. 1999/3376, art. 2

F12 S. 76(2)(b)(i) repealed by Local Government Act 1985 (c. 51, SIF 81:1), ss. 1, 102, Sch. 17

F13 S. 76(2)(b)(ia) inserted by Local Government Act 1985 (c. 51, SIF 81:1), s. 19(5)(6), Sch. 9 para. 1(8) and repealed by Education Reform Act 1988 (c. 40, SIF 41:1), ss. 231(7), 235(6), 237, Sch. 13 Pt. I

F14 Word in s. 76(2)(b)(ii) substituted (5.3.2001) by S.I. 2001/535, art. 4; S.I. 1997/879

F15 S. 76(2A) inserted (14.12.1999) by 1999 c. 29, s. 17, Sch. 3 para. 20(4); S.I. 1999/3376, art. 2

F16 S. 76(3) repealed by Representation of the People Act 1985 (c. 50, SIF 42), ss. 24, 28, Sch. 4 para. 25, Sch. 5

F17 S. 76(4) substituted (16.2.2001) by 2000 c. 2, s. 8, Sch. 1 para. 18(3); S.I. 2001/116, art. 2

F18 Words in s. 76(5) inserted (14.12.1999) by 1999 c. 29, s. 17, Sch. 3 para. 20(5); S.I 1999/3376, art 2

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C3 S. 76 modified by Representation of the People Act 1985 (c. 50, SIF 42), s. 20(5)

C4 S. 76 applied with modifications (N.I.) by S.I. 1986/2250, regs. 2, 3, 5, Sch. 1 Pt. I

C5 S. 76 applied with modifications (E.W.S.) by S.I. 1986/2209, regs. 2, 3, 5(1)(6)–(8), Sch. 1 Pt. I

C6 S. 76 applied (with modifications) (N.I.) (4.5.1996) by S.I. 1996/1220, art. 3(1)(5)-(8), Sch. 1

C7 S. 76 amended (17.3.2000) by S.I. 2000/789, art. 2

C8 S. 76 applied (with modifications) (1.8.2001) by S.I. 2001/2599, art. 3(1), Sch. 1

C9 S. 76(2A) applied (16.2.2001) by 2000 c. 41, s. 8(3)(a); S.I. 2001/222, art. 2, Sch. 1 Pt. I (subject to transitional provisions in Sch. 1 Pt. II)