How Much Does it Cost?

Abstract

The cost of elections is less in the United Kingdom than in some other democratic countries and, in particular, substantially less than in the United States. But total election expenses do amount to a considerable sum, both those chargeable to the Exchequer and to local authorities and those for which the candidates and the political parties are responsible. (This chapter deals solely with the cost of general elections; statistics are not readily available of expenses incurred in local elections, though the sums involved are undoubtedly lower. Expenditure on Parliamentary by-elections is substantially greater than that in individual constituencies at a general election, as the, spending limits are now four times as high. Reference is made to the cost of Euro-elections in Chapter 11.)