Campaign spending and expenses

Candidates are limited to how much they can spend on their election campaigns. The Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 defines campaign expenditure as expenses incurred by a political party to promote the party and its candidates (but excluding anything which is to be included in a return as to election expenses).

This includes:

• party political broadcasts
• advertising
• unsolicited material distributed to electors
• party manifestos
• market research
• press conferences and media
• transport during the campaign
• rallies and other events.

The limits on expenditure for the London elections are:

• Mayoral candidates: £420,000
• Constituency London Assembly candidates: £35,000
• London-wide Assembly candidates: £330,000 (for an individual independent candidate or political party list).

Candidates must declare their expenditure to the Greater London Returning Officer (Mayoral and London-wide Assembly Member candidates) or the Constituency Returning Officer (Constituency London Assembly Member candidates) after the results have been declared. All expenditure must be declared within 70 days for Mayoral and London-wide Assembly Member candidates, and 35 days for Constituency Assembly Member candidates.

There are also rules governing donations and loans which you can accept either as a political party or a regulated donee (individual or group). This includes aspects such as who you can accept donations and loans from, and what you must report to the Electoral Commission. Candidate and political parties should speak to the Party and Election Finance team at the Electoral Commission for full information about campaign spending, election expenses, donations and loans.

Guidance related to candidate spending will be published over the coming months. To make sure you keep informed of all our latest developments, please sign up for e-alerts , or follow us on social media.