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Bill · started in the Commons

Political Parties and Elections

To make provision in connection with the Electoral Commission; and to make provision about political donations and expenditure and about elections.

Now an Act of Parliament

The story so farThe Political Parties and Elections was introduced in the House of Commons on 17 July 2008 by Mr Jack Straw (Labour). It completed its passage through Parliament and became law, receiving Royal Assent on 21 July 2009.

What the bill does

The Bill makes some amendments to the regulation of party funding and election expenditure that is set out in the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000. It will cover the whole of the UK. <br><br>The Bill aims to: <br><ul><li>strengthen the regulatory powers of the Electoral Commission, to provide new powers of investigation and the option of civil sanctions </li><li>enable political parties to put forward four extra Electoral Commissioners and relax political restrictions on staff of the Commission </li><li>alter the definition of &lsquo;election expenses&rsquo; and &lsquo;candidate&rsquo; in the Representation of the People Act 1983 to take into account spending on elections prior to the dissolution of Parliament </li><li>place further requirements on parties and donors to clarify the source of donations </li><li>amend the Representation of the People Act to provide a more flexible system for adding to the register of electors when an election is called while the register is being updated &ndash; the canvass period. </li></ul>

Progress through Parliament

  1. 1st reading Commons 17 Jul 2008
  2. 2nd reading Commons 20 Oct 2008
  3. Carry-over motion Commons 20 Oct 2008
  4. Programme motion Commons 20 Oct to 27 Oct 2008
  5. Committee stage Commons 4 Nov to 20 Nov 2008
  6. 1st reading Commons 4 Dec 2008
  7. 2nd reading Commons 4 Dec 2008
  8. Programme motion Commons 9 Feb 2009
  9. Report stage Commons 9 Feb to 2 Mar 2009
  10. 3rd reading Commons 2 Mar 2009
  11. 1st reading Lords 3 Mar 2009
  12. 2nd reading Lords 18 Mar 2009
  13. Committee stage Lords 29 Apr to 13 May 2009
  14. Report stage Lords 15 Jun to 17 Jun 2009
  15. 3rd reading Lords 9 Jul 2009
  16. Carry-over motion Commons 13 Jul 2009
  17. Programme motion Commons 13 Jul 2009
  18. Consideration of Lords amendments Commons 13 Jul 2009
  19. Consideration of Commons amendments and / or reasons Lords 20 Jul 2009
  20. Consideration of Lords amendments Commons 20 Jul 2009
  21. Royal Assent Unassigned 21 Jul 2009

Source: the official bill page. Last updated 16 Oct 2009.