20. Is there a limit on the amount a candidate can contribute to their own election campaign?

(1) Section 76 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 (limitation of election expenses) shall be amended as follows.

(2) For subsection (1) there shall be substituted—

“(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.”

(3) Insubsection(1A)forthewordsfrom“subsection”onwardsthere shall be substituted “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).”

(4) After subsection (1A) there shall be inserted—

“(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) kneworoughtreasonablytohaveknownthattheexpenses would be incurred in excess of that maximum amount,

shall be guilty of an illegal practice.”

(5) Insubsection(2),forparagraph(aa)(maximumamountincaseof candidate at parliamentary by-election) there shall be substituted— “(aa) for a candidate at a parliamentary by-election, £100,000;”.                                                                                   

6) The amendments made by this section do not have effect in relation to local government elections in Scotland.

Source: Article 132, Political Parties and Referendums Act, 2000

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