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Written question asked by Peter Bone (Conservative) on Monday, 4 May 2020, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 6 May 2020. It was answered by Christian Matheson (Labour) on Monday, 11 May 2020 on behalf of the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission.

UK Membership of EU: Referendums

Question

To ask the hon. Member for City of Chester, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, how many court cases the Electoral Commission was involved in relating to (a) leave and (b) remain campaign organisations in the 2016 EU referendum; and how much expenditure the Commission incurred in each case.

Answer

The Electoral Commission was directly involved in eight court cases in which registered campaigners for the leave outcome in the 2016 EU referendum were also involved. In all instances the cases were initiated by others, and in all but one the decisions of the Commission were upheld or substantially upheld by the court, or the case was settled or discontinued. In those cases where the Commission’s decision was upheld or substantially upheld by the court, the Commission has recovered costs.

The Electoral Commission was involved in no court cases relating to registered campaigners for the remain outcome.

It is not currently possible to provide a breakdown of the Commission’s expenditure by case; some of the costs are still in the process of being identified as payable, and some of the costs still need to be taken account of, owing to the recent conclusion of some cases.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
42956
Session
2019-21
Transferred
Yes
Subjects
Courts Campaigns Expenditure Electoral Commission Referendums UK membership of EU
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk