Political spending and donations: what are the rules in the

July’s general election is likely to be most expensive since regulation of party spending began in 2000

The UK’s most expensive general election is widely believed to have been in 1880, when at least £170m in today’s terms was spent by candidates, with the increased cost of campaigning to an expanded electorate and a peak in corruption that led to the first regulatory controls on political spending.

After more than 140 years, and scandals ranging from cash for honours to foreign money and dodgy donors, parties and candidates are now subject to rules on expenditure and donations. An increase in spending limits, announced last year, means this general election is likely to be the most expensive since regulation of party spending began in 2000.