Electoral watchdog evidence
Electoral Commission Chair John Pullinger and Chief Executive Bob Posner will face questions from the cross-party Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee (PACAC) over its work regulating elections and political party funding. and on the impact of proposals in the Elections Bill.
The session will be Mr Pullinger’s first appearance before a Parliamentary Committee since taking up his role in May.
The session is also likely to cover concerns revealed by witnesses speaking to MPs in earlier sessions of the Committee’s Work of the Electoral Commission Inquiry. Witnesses have criticised the fact that investigations could last years and that the guidance given to them when seeking advice on issues of campaigning and funding is confusing, particularly placing a significant burden on small parties, charities and third party campaigners. They also voiced concerns over governance and accountability arrangements of the Commission, with some worried about the impartiality of the regulator.
This will be the final oral evidence session of the inquiry with the Committee expected to report back in 2022.
Witnesses
Tuesday 7 December 2021
At 10.30am;
- John Pullinger, Chair, Electoral Commission.
- Bob Posner, Chief Executive, Electoral Commission.