Info
Parties and Candidates
PC001
Registration requirements for parties (Chamber 1)
Question: What are the registration requirements for political parties running for national elections (Chamber 1)?
Answer(s):
f . Other
Comments: b) Political parties must register with the Electoral Commission if they wish their party name and emblem to appear on the ballot paper. Otherwise a candidate can be on the paper either as a "independent candidate" or with no description.
Parties can only be registered if party candidates will be put up to contest elections. Otherwise, candidates can stand as independents and they don’t need to register a political party to stand for election
Once registered, a party’s name, description and emblem can appear on the ballot paper alongside the name of its candidate
Source: Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2022, Art. 28;
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/41/section/28#commentary-key-e27b2b20645410eba82524ec4149f891
Official Website of the Electoral Commission: Electoral Commission’s “Introduction to registering a political party”: (2017)
https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/political-registration-and-regulation/political-party-registration
Verified: 2025/06/17
PC003
Registration requirements for candidates (Chamber 1)
Question: What are the legal qualifications to become a candidate at legislative elections (Chamber 1)?
Answer(s):
a . Age b . Citizenship
Comments: Art. 17(a) 18 years old
Art. 18(a) a qualifying Commonwealth citizen, or
Art. 18(b) a citizen of the Republic of Ireland.
Source: Electoral Administration Act 2006, Art. 17-18
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/22/part/5
Verified: 2025/06/17
PC008
Independent candidates
Question: Can independent candidates compete in presidential or legislative elections?
Answer(s):
c . In legislative elections (Chamber 1)
Comments:
Source: Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (as amended, 2025), art. 22;
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/41/section/28#commentary-key-e27b2b20645410eba82524ec4149f891
Political Parties and Elections Act 2009;
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2009/12/contents
Electoral Administration Act 2006
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/22/part/5
Verified: 2025/06/17
PC012
Public funding of parties
Question: Do political parties receive direct/indirect public funding?
Answer(s):
b . Direct c . Indirect
Comments: Public funding is provided:
- to opposition parties to facilitate their parliamentary opposition functions;
- Parties in Parliament are entitled to £2m between them as "Policy Development Grant";
Direct Public Funding:
- Short Money: Provided to opposition parties in the House of Commons to support their parliamentary work.
- Cranborne Money: Similar funding for opposition parties in the House of Lords.
- Policy Development Grants: Offered to help parties develop policies for inclusion in their manifestos.
Indirect Funding
- Includes free broadcasting time during election campaigns and subsidised postage for election communications.
- Private funding is unlimited provided that the donor is "legal" (foreign donors not allowed), and comes from membership fees, donations (from individuals, companies, and trade unions), and loans.
Source: Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, Part IV, Section 50-71; Part V, Section 72-88; Part VI, Section 89-100, Part IX, Section 131-148; Section 12, part 1.
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/41/part/IV
Representation of the People Act 1983
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1983/2/contents
Electoral Administration Act 2006, Part 7, Art.91-98
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/22/part/7
House of Commons and Lords Resolutions
https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN07137/SN07137.pdf
Verified: 2025/06/17
PC015
Question: What is the basis of the public funding?
Answer(s):
e . Other
Comments: e) Largest party criteria other than ruling party; "Policy Development Grants"
Art. 12 Policy development grants.
(1) For the purposes of this section—
(a) “a policy development grant” is a grant to a represented registered party to
assist the party with the development of policies for inclusion in any manifesto
Source: Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, Art. 12;
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/41/data.pdf
Representation of the People Act 1983, Art. 91 - 98
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1983/2/contents/data.pdf
Verified: 2025/06/23
PC017
Question: Are political parties entitled to private funding?
Answer:
a . Yes
Comments:
Source: Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, Part IV;
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/41/data.pdf
Electoral Administration Act 2006, Part 7: Art. 55 - 63;
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/22/part/7
Representation of the People Act 1983, Art. 71A - 90D
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1983/2/contents/data.pdf
Verified: 2025/06/23
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