Tories fined over £10,000 after probe uncovers failures in reporting donations

19 March 2024 , 10:39

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The Tories have been fined after non-cash donations weren't properly declared (Image: Getty Images)

The Tories have been fined more than £10,000 after failing to accurately report donations.

The party under-reported the cost of an employee seconded to the Tories by a donor for more than three years. An investigation by the Electoral Commission, which monitors party spending, found the non-cash donation was under-reported by more than £200,000.

The worker later went on to join the Tories as a full-time employee. The commission said it had also discovered a single non-cash donation relating to the same seconded employee, in December last year.

The Tories were hit with two fines totalling £10,750. The penalties were paid on March 6, the commission said.

It came after a probe into 19 donations, in the form of a seconded employee, and a further late reported donation was upheld. The donor has not been identified.

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Louise Edwards, director of regulation and digital transformation at the Electoral Commission, said: "Our investigation into the Conservative and Unionist Party found a number of donations inaccurately reported or reported late. The political finance laws we enforce are there to ensure transparency in how parties are funded and to increase public confidence in our system, so it’s important donations are fully and clearly reported.

“Where we find offences, we carefully consider the circumstances before deciding whether to impose a sanction. We take into account a range of factors before making our final decision, including proportionality.”

The worker started the secondment with the Tories in April 2020, when Boris Johnson was Prime Minister. They then became a full time member of party staff in December last year, documents reveal.

The commission concluded: "The party under-reported non-cash donations, in the form of an employee seconded to the party by a donor between April 2020 to December 2023. The non-cash donations were under reported by more than £200,000, when the seconded employee went from part time to full time work at the party.

A Conservative Party spokeswoman said: "After becoming aware of an administrative error, the party self-reported to the Electoral Commission. We accept its findings and appreciate that the Electoral Commission accepts that this was not deliberate."

Dave Burke