This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/conservative-party-fine-tory-tories-electoral-commission-70000-election-campaign-expenses-a7632516.html

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Conservative Party fined £70,000 after investigation finds 'significant' election campaign expenses issues Conservative Party fined £70,000 after investigation finds 'significant' election campaign expenses issues
(35 minutes later)
The Electoral Commission has fined the Conservative Party £70,000 over "significant" election campaign expenses issues.The Electoral Commission has fined the Conservative Party £70,000 over "significant" election campaign expenses issues.
Their investigation found the party's 2015 General Election spending return was missing payments worth at least £104,765. The independent elections watchdog said the party had made "numerous failures" in reporting its expenses for the 2015 General Election and three by-elections in 2014.
Their investigation found the party's 2015 General Election spending return was missing payments worth at least £104,765.
Separately, payments worth up to £118,124 were either not reported to the Commission or were incorrectly reported.Separately, payments worth up to £118,124 were either not reported to the Commission or were incorrectly reported.
It said a portion of the amount should have been included in the party's return, while another portion was put into the return when it was candidate spending.It said a portion of the amount should have been included in the party's return, while another portion was put into the return when it was candidate spending.
The Party also did not include the required invoices or receipts for 81 payments, with the value of £52,924.The Party also did not include the required invoices or receipts for 81 payments, with the value of £52,924.
More follows... Commission chairman Sir John Holmes said the Tories' failure to follow the rules "undermined voters' confidence in our democratic processes" and said there was a risk political parties were seeing such fines as "a cost of doing business".