This page explains about the new rules on donations to political parties and regulated donees in Northern Ireland. There is also guidance and learning resources for political parties, key contacts and a note about loans.
Donations to political parties
On 1 November 2007 new controls on donations to registered political parties in Northern Ireland come into force. This means that donations must only be accepted from permissible sources.
Parties must now record all donations over £200. In addition, donations to a party of more than £5,000 or to the partys accounting units of more than £1,000 must be reported to us each quarter, as must donations of more than £200 from impermissible or unidentifiable sources. Parties may need to put in place new procedures to record this information.
In addition political parties registered in Northern Ireland must make the first report of donations, covering the period November - December 2007, to us by 30 January 2008. We have produced detailed guidance for political parties.
Donations by regulated donees
The new controls also apply to regulated donees in respect of donations made in connection with their political activities. Regulated donees are those who are either members of registered political parties, holders of relevant elective office or members associations. You can download detailed guidance to assist regulated donees in implementing the controls.
We must keep donations reported to us by political parties in Northern Ireland entirely confidential except where a party accepts an impermissible or unidentifiable donation. In these cases, the details of the donation will be published, excluding the donors name.
Guidance and learning resources for political parties
We have prepared a range of learning resources to assist political parties in understanding the donations controls:
- a presentation on the donations controls
- a practical guide to dealing with political donations in Northern Ireland
- FAQs about the new rules
Contacts
You may also contact our Northern Ireland Office with more specific queries at:
The Electoral Commission
Seatem House
28-32 Alfred Street
Belfast
BT2 8EN
Tel: 028 9089 4025
Fax: 028 9089 4026
Textphone: 18001 028 9089 4020
Email infonorthernireland@electoralcommission.org.uk
Loans to political parties
Loans to political parties are not currently regulated. Until such time as the Northern Ireland Office brings forward legislation on loans, we have asked registered political parties to sign a letter of undertaking agreeing not to take out loans from impermissible sources.
We are not asking parties to record or report any loans entered into during this period, but recommend that they develop systems for recording loans. You can download the text of the letter of undertaking.
