EU referendum campaigning and the Churches

Friday 15 April marked the start of the “referendum period” during which the rules relating to the spending on campaigning apply. Referendum campaign spending is regulated under the Political, Parties Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (PPERA) as amended by the European Union Referendum Act 2015 and the Transparency of Lobbying, (etc) Act 2014. Faith-based organizations might be affected in two ways:

  • if they spend more than £10,000 during the referendum period, in which case they are required to register with the Electoral Commission; and/or
  • in relation to their charitable status. Continue reading