Candidate spending limits

There are limits on candidate spending at elections and controls on the sources of funding for that spending. After the election, candidates and their agents must account for the costs of campaigning and donations to the campaign in a spending return.

The current spending limit for a candidate standing in a local government election is £960.00, plus 8p per local government elector registered to vote on the last day for publication of the Notice of Election in the ward being contested.  For example, if there are 7,500 local government electors in a ward, the spending limit is: 

£960 + (7,500 x 0.08) = £1,560

The number of electors that candidates will need to calculate the expenses limits is the total number of qualified electors on the local government register for Hanworth Village ward as on 30 May 2024. 

Please see the table below with the number of local government electors in Hanworth Village ward as of 30 May 2024

Ward	Number of local government electors
Hanworth Village	11,002

Spending limits for joint candidates

You are a joint candidate if you stand in the same ward and:

have the same election agent or
use the same campaign rooms or
publish joint material

Joint candidates have lower spending limits, as they are sharing some of the costs. You should calculate your spending limit as above, and then reduce it by:

Number of joint candidates	Reduction of spending limit
Two	25% - a quarter
Three or more	33% - a third

For example:

Two candidates standing in the same ward decide to issue joint campaign material. This makes them joint candidates.  There are 7,500 local government electors in a ward.  To calculate each joint candidates spending limit:

First, calculate the spending limit for a single candidate - £960 + (7,500 x 0.08) = £1,560
Then, calculate 25% of this amount - £1,560 x (25÷100) = £390
Then, take this amount off the spending limit for a single candidate - £1,560 - £390 = £1170

The spending limit for each of the two joint candidates is £1170

Please note that the calculation of spending limits is the responsibility of the candidate and/or election agent.

Please click here to view the Electoral Commission’s Guidance on candidate spending.

Alternatively, you can contact The Electoral Commission by email at pef@electoralcommission.org.uk or phone on 0333 103 1928.

For information on how to complete your return and downloadable templates to complete please click here.