---

Political Parties and Elections Bill

One of the reasons that we are here is that the Electoral Commission has failed to use its judgment and its policing in the past few years. As the noble Lord, Lord Hodgson, said, we have to be clear what powers the Government are going to support the Electoral Commission with, and what process of appeal is available when the Electoral Commission does not fulfil the roles that it is meant to fulfil and has not exacted judgment fairly—as has been the case in the past; I declare an interest as a party treasurer for the Conservative Party for three and a half years. We must be very careful as we go through the Bill about giving blanket powers to the Electoral Commission which are not policed properly and are not exact. I therefore support my learned colleague.