Momentum Fined For 'multiple Breaches' Of Electoral Law

[Kromovaracun]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-47468571

The Electoral Commission has fined Momentum for multiple breaches of electoral law due to inaccurate spending returns relating to the 2017 general election in at least four different instances.

//£12,150 for failing to submit a spending return that was complete and accurate
£2,700 for omitting £22,958.46 of reportable donations from a post-poll donation report
£250 for failing to provide the required declaration to accompany their post-poll donations report
£250 for failing to provide all required invoices with their spending return//

Momentum have claimed that there was a 'clerical error.'

Apparently this investigation had been ongoing since November 2017 - I must confess this is the first time I've heard of it.

Does it really make sense to just issue fines in circumstances like this? The horse has bolted and whatever influence the mis-spending might have gained is long over with. The group can easily afford the fine, too, so the penalty for breaking election spending rules seems pretty toothless.

[-Talbot-]

Saw this as it was supposedly 'Breaking' I just yawn and went to B&Q.

breaking election spending rules doesn't pique my interest.

[-Talbot-]

yawned

[cassa333]

It didn’t even warrant twenty minutes on the main BBC website and got relegated to the politics page.

All shouty news when it was the leave campaign but not this time!!!

[Kromovaracun]

I care very much about spending rules. It seems that breaking them has become all the rage - and the penalties for doing so are pretty meaningless. This has pretty significant consequences down the line.

[Old_Geezer]

One should only need enough spending budget to get one's case across. Excess spending ought not sway further if the message isn't the one a voter approves of. (Of course more might need to be spent on mud slinging and countering unfair mud slung at your campaign.)

[JF85]

The sums seem inconsequential for a large organisation. There must be a better way than fines for attempts to undermine democracy, or for big businesses who hide behind the letter of the law while laughing at its spirit (Prêt à Manger). Companies like Apple and Facebook don't give a hoot about fines.

[ToraToraTora]

stop it, I'm welling up ere!

[Togo]

Was Diane Abbot doing the accounts for them?

[lindapalmara]

//Was Diane Abbot doing the accounts for them?//

Saw a YouTube of her this week saying "We are going to borrow enough money to get us our of debt !!"