This House of Lords Library Briefing has been prepared in advance of the debate to take place on 13 September 2018 in the House of Lords on the motion moved by Lord Harries of Pentregarth that this House takes note of Part II of the Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014 and the effect it has had on third party election campaigning.
Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014 (320KB PDF)
The Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (the 2000 Act) sets out the rules on what third party, or non-party campaigners, can spend on regulated campaign activity in the run-up to certain elections. Organisations able to register under the 2000 Act as third parties includes bodies such as charitable companies and charitable incorporated organisations. Part 2 of the Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014 (the 2014 Act) amended the 2000 Act. Amongst its provisions, part 2 of the 2014 Act reduced the overall maximum expenditure limit, widened the range of activities on which expenditure had to be accounted for and increased the threshold for registration. Additionally, it introduced two new concepts: a constituency spending limit, which applies to spending aimed at one or more particular constituencies, and targeted spending, which covers campaign activity aimed at influencing voters to vote for a political party or any of its candidates. This Lords Library briefing provides further information on the 2014 Act and a discussion of reports and commentary that have discussed the operation of the 2014 Act and the effect that it has had on third party campaigners.
Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014 (320KB PDF)
In January 2026, the government announced a new scheme to support urgent repairs and essential improvements to listed places of worship. Called the ‘Places of worship renewal fund for England’, it replaced the ‘Listed places of worship grant scheme’ which had run since 2001. This briefing provides an overview of both schemes, the government’s reasoning for the change and the reaction of stakeholders.
There have been big differences in expenditure across different forms of healthcare for a number of years. In 2024/25, spending on acute care was £74.7bn, compared to £14.5bn on primary care and £13.8bn on community services. Both the 2024 Labour Party manifesto and the subsequent 10 year health plan for England contained an emphasis on shifting towards more care being delivered in local communities rather than in acute settings, dubbed a ‘neighbourhood health service’.
Social media and other technologies have made it easier, quicker and cheaper for foreign powers to spread false information online aimed at undermining UK democracy. Such disinformation campaigns are one type of interference operation. In parallel, researchers have noted a link between declining public trust and societal polarisation, which can be exacerbated by online discourse. This briefing provides introductory reading to these issues, including recent reports and government announcements.
