Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000

3 (1) This paragraph imposes limits in relation to campaign expenditure incurred by or on behalf of a registered party which contests one or more constituencies at a parliamentary general election.

(2) Where a registered party contests one or more constituencies in England, Scotland or Wales, the limit applying to campaign expenditure which is incurred by or on behalf of the party in the relevant period in that part of Great Britain is—

(a) £30,000 multiplied by the number of constituencies contested by the party in that part of Great Britain; or

(b) if greater, the appropriate amount specified in sub-paragraph (3).

(3) The appropriate amount is—

(a) in relation to England, £810,000;

(b) in relation to Scotland, £120,000; and

(c) in relation to Wales, £60,000.

(4) Where a registered party contests one or more constituencies in Northern Ireland, the limit applying to campaign expenditure which is incurred by or on behalf of the party in the relevant period in Northern Ireland is £30,000 multiplied by the number of constituencies contested by the party there.

(5) Sub-paragraph (6) applies to a registered party in a case where at the election a candidate stands for election in any constituency in the name of that party and one or more other registered parties.

(6) In such a case, the amount applying to the party in respect of the constituency under sub-paragraph (2)(a) or (4) (as the case may be) shall, instead of being the amount specified in that provision, be that amount divided by the number of registered parties in whose name the candidate stands for election as mentioned in sub-paragraph (5).

(7) For the purposes of this paragraph the relevant period is—

(a) (subject to paragraph (b)) the period of 365 days ending with the date of the poll for the election;

(b) where the election (“the election in question”) follows another parliamentary general election held less than 365 days previously, the period—

(i) beginning with the day after the date of the poll for the earlier election, and

(ii) ending with the date of the poll for the election in question.