Political Parties and Elections

Act of Parliament

This bill passed all stages in both Houses and received Royal Assent.

Originated in CommonsCurrently in UnassignedUpdated 16 October 2009

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Long title

To make provision in connection with the Electoral Commission; and to make provision about political donations and expenditure and about elections.

Summary

The Bill makes some amendments to the regulation of party funding and election expenditure that is set out in the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000. It will cover the whole of the UK. <br><br>The Bill aims to: <br><ul><li>strengthen the regulatory powers of the Electoral Commission, to provide new powers of investigation and the option of civil sanctions </li><li>enable political parties to put forward four extra Electoral Commissioners and relax political restrictions on staff of the Commission </li><li>alter the definition of &lsquo;election expenses&rsquo; and &lsquo;candidate&rsquo; in the Representation of the People Act 1983 to take into account spending on elections prior to the dissolution of Parliament </li><li>place further requirements on parties and donors to clarify the source of donations </li><li>amend the Representation of the People Act to provide a more flexible system for adding to the register of electors when an election is called while the register is being updated &ndash; the canvass period. </li></ul>

Progress through Parliament

  1. 1st reading· Commons

    17 July 2008 – 17 July 2008

  2. 2nd reading· Commons

    20 October 2008 – 20 October 2008

  3. Carry-over motion· Commons

    20 October 2008 – 20 October 2008

  4. Programme motion· Commons

    20 October 2008 – 27 October 2008

  5. Committee stage· Commons

    4 November 2008 – 20 November 2008

  6. 1st reading· Commons

    4 December 2008 – 4 December 2008

  7. 2nd reading· Commons

    4 December 2008 – 4 December 2008

  8. Programme motion· Commons

    9 February 2009 – 9 February 2009

  9. Report stage· Commons

    9 February 2009 – 2 March 2009

  10. 3rd reading· Commons

    2 March 2009 – 2 March 2009

  11. 1st reading· Lords

    3 March 2009 – 3 March 2009

  12. 2nd reading· Lords

    18 March 2009 – 18 March 2009

  13. Committee stage· Lords

    29 April 2009 – 13 May 2009

  14. Report stage· Lords

    15 June 2009 – 17 June 2009

  15. 3rd reading· Lords

    9 July 2009 – 9 July 2009

  16. Carry-over motion· Commons

    13 July 2009 – 13 July 2009

  17. Programme motion· Commons

    13 July 2009 – 13 July 2009

  18. Consideration of Lords amendments· Commons

    13 July 2009 – 13 July 2009

  19. Consideration of Commons amendments and / or reasons· Lords

    20 July 2009 – 20 July 2009

  20. Consideration of Lords amendments· Commons

    20 July 2009 – 20 July 2009

Source: UK Parliament Bills API. Bill ID: 336.