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Conservative Party fined £70,000 over election expenses | Conservative Party fined £70,000 over election expenses |
(35 minutes later) | |
The Conservative Party has been fined £70,000 by the Electoral Commission for breaking election expense rules. | The Conservative Party has been fined £70,000 by the Electoral Commission for breaking election expense rules. |
The commission's report highlights "numerous failures" in reporting spending on three by-elections in 2014 and the 2015 General Election. | The commission's report highlights "numerous failures" in reporting spending on three by-elections in 2014 and the 2015 General Election. |
These included missing payments of £104,000 - and £118,000 that was either not reported or incorrectly reported. | These included missing payments of £104,000 - and £118,000 that was either not reported or incorrectly reported. |
The Conservatives said they had accepted last March they had made "an administrative error". | The Conservatives said they had accepted last March they had made "an administrative error". |
A spokesman added that Labour and the Lib Dems had also been fined in the past and "there needs to be a review of how the Electoral Commission's processes and requirements could be clarified or improved". | A spokesman added that Labour and the Lib Dems had also been fined in the past and "there needs to be a review of how the Electoral Commission's processes and requirements could be clarified or improved". |
The Electoral Commission's chief executive Claire Bassett told BBC Radio 5 live the investigation had taken much longer than necessary because of "some difficulties" in getting information from the Conservative Party. | The Electoral Commission's chief executive Claire Bassett told BBC Radio 5 live the investigation had taken much longer than necessary because of "some difficulties" in getting information from the Conservative Party. |
She added that having had to get a court order to get information was "very disappointing". | She added that having had to get a court order to get information was "very disappointing". |
The Electoral Commission also said it wanted stronger powers, otherwise "there is a risk that some political parties might come to view the payment of these fines as a cost of doing business". | The Electoral Commission also said it wanted stronger powers, otherwise "there is a risk that some political parties might come to view the payment of these fines as a cost of doing business". |
The investigation, which followed Channel 4 News' own investigation into claims that Tories may have broken election law at the 2015 general election and three earlier by-elections, found: | The investigation, which followed Channel 4 News' own investigation into claims that Tories may have broken election law at the 2015 general election and three earlier by-elections, found: |
Sir John Holmes, chair of the Electoral Commission, said: "Our investigation uncovered numerous failures by a large, well-resourced and experienced party to ensure that accurate records of spending were maintained and that all of the party's spending was reported correctly. | Sir John Holmes, chair of the Electoral Commission, said: "Our investigation uncovered numerous failures by a large, well-resourced and experienced party to ensure that accurate records of spending were maintained and that all of the party's spending was reported correctly. |
"The rules established by parliament for political parties and their finances are there to ensure transparency and accountability. | "The rules established by parliament for political parties and their finances are there to ensure transparency and accountability. |
"Where the rules are not followed, it undermines voters' confidence in our democratic processes, which is why political parties need to take their responsibilities under the legislation seriously." | "Where the rules are not followed, it undermines voters' confidence in our democratic processes, which is why political parties need to take their responsibilities under the legislation seriously." |
The Electoral Commission's investigation covered the national party rather than spending by individual candidates, which police forces have been looking into. | The Electoral Commission's investigation covered the national party rather than spending by individual candidates, which police forces have been looking into. |
Senior Conservative MP Oliver Letwin said that spending record "mistakes" were probably down to "human error" rather than a deliberate attempt to rig elections. | Senior Conservative MP Oliver Letwin said that spending record "mistakes" were probably down to "human error" rather than a deliberate attempt to rig elections. |
"I don't think you should conclude from this that there is some great conspiracy," he told BBC Radio 4 Today's programme. | "I don't think you should conclude from this that there is some great conspiracy," he told BBC Radio 4 Today's programme. |
But the Electoral Commission has referred a possible criminal offence - of whether Simon Day, the Conservative Party's registered treasurer until April 2016, "knowingly or recklessly made a false declaration" - to the Metropolitan Police. | But the Electoral Commission has referred a possible criminal offence - of whether Simon Day, the Conservative Party's registered treasurer until April 2016, "knowingly or recklessly made a false declaration" - to the Metropolitan Police. |
The Electoral Commission said this was the third investigation it had carried out into big parties failing to report six figure sums following major elections. | The Electoral Commission said this was the third investigation it had carried out into big parties failing to report six figure sums following major elections. |
It concluded that Simon Day committed three contraventions under section 41 and two offences under section 82(4)(b) of Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000. | It concluded that Simon Day committed three contraventions under section 41 and two offences under section 82(4)(b) of Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000. |
The allegations that prompted the investigation were that the party bussed in activists to take part in critical campaigns in marginal seats which helped David Cameron win a majority at the 2015 General Election. | The allegations that prompted the investigation were that the party bussed in activists to take part in critical campaigns in marginal seats which helped David Cameron win a majority at the 2015 General Election. |
Separate police investigations have been taking place into whether campaign spending in individual seats were registered as national spending when they should have counted towards each candidate's spending limit. | Separate police investigations have been taking place into whether campaign spending in individual seats were registered as national spending when they should have counted towards each candidate's spending limit. |
Twelve police forces have asked the Crown Prosecution Service to consider charges over election expenses. | Twelve police forces have asked the Crown Prosecution Service to consider charges over election expenses. |
BBC Political Editor Laura Kuenssberg said that if prosecutions go ahead "we could be looking at by-elections". | BBC Political Editor Laura Kuenssberg said that if prosecutions go ahead "we could be looking at by-elections". |
In response to the Electoral Commission report, a Conservative spokesman said it had "complied fully... and will pay the fines". | In response to the Electoral Commission report, a Conservative spokesman said it had "complied fully... and will pay the fines". |
"This investigation and these fines relate to national spending by CCHQ, and the Conservative Party's national spending return for the 2015 general election. | "This investigation and these fines relate to national spending by CCHQ, and the Conservative Party's national spending return for the 2015 general election. |
"As we have consistently said, the local agents of Conservative candidates correctly declared all local spending in the 2015 general election. | "As we have consistently said, the local agents of Conservative candidates correctly declared all local spending in the 2015 general election. |
"CCHQ accepted in March 2016 that it had made an administrative error by not declaring a small amount constituting 0.6 per cent of our national spending in the 2015 election campaign. | "CCHQ accepted in March 2016 that it had made an administrative error by not declaring a small amount constituting 0.6 per cent of our national spending in the 2015 election campaign. |
"Political parties of all colours have made reporting mistakes from time to time... this is the first time the Conservative Party has been fined for a reporting error. | "Political parties of all colours have made reporting mistakes from time to time... this is the first time the Conservative Party has been fined for a reporting error. |
"We regret that and will continue to keep our internal processes under review to ensure this does not happen again. | "We regret that and will continue to keep our internal processes under review to ensure this does not happen again. |
"Given the range of technical errors made by a number of political parties and campaign groups, there also needs to be a review of how the Electoral Commission's processes and requirements could be clarified or improved." | "Given the range of technical errors made by a number of political parties and campaign groups, there also needs to be a review of how the Electoral Commission's processes and requirements could be clarified or improved." |