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Political Parties: Finance

Asked by Kevin HollinrakeConservativeSpeaker's Committee on the Electoral CommissionTabled Answered 28 April 2026UIN 129174

The question

To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2026 to Question 118895 on Political Parties: Finance, what guidance the Electoral Commission has provided to Members’ Associations on how sponsorship revenue deemed to be as a commercial transaction should be treated under donation reporting requirements.

Answered by Sir Jeremy Wright

Commercial transactions may be sponsorship, if the purpose of the payment can reasonably be seen to be to help the members association meet the costs of an event, publication, or research study. For example, a payment for advertising at an event run by a members association would be sponsorship and the full amount must be treated as a donation.

The Commission will publish updated guidance on sponsorship shortly.

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