Government Response to the Committee on Standards in Public Life's Eleventh Report 'Review of the Electoral Commission'

I have today published the Government response to the Committee on Standards in Public Life's eleventh report ““Review of the Electoral Commission”” (Cm 7272). On behalf of the Government, I would like to thank the former Chairman, Sir Alistair Graham, interim Chair, Rita Donaghy, and members of the Committee on Standards in Public Life for their hard work in conducting a review of the Electoral Commission and producing a detailed and stimulating report. The Government are grateful to the Committee for thoroughly examining the issues and making recommendations for improvement. This was a useful review marking some six years since the Electoral Commission was created. Some of the Committee's recommendations are directed at Government, while others are directed at the Electoral Commission and the Speaker's Committee. The Electoral Commission and Association of Electoral Administrators published responses in March and April respectively. The Speaker's Committee published its response to the recommendations relevant to it in August. The Government have carefully considered and taken into account the views of these and other interested parties before publishing their own response. The Government are committed to a strong, effective and independent Electoral Commission, and are keen to take forward recommendations which they believe will enable the Electoral Commission to more effectively carry out its dual role as regulator of party funding and campaign expenditure, and electoral administration. The importance of a proactive, focused and effective Electoral Commission, acting as a strong regulator is vital to protecting and enhancing the health of our democratic system. The Government are committed to working with the Electoral Commission and other relevant bodies to put in place necessary arrangements and legislation to assist the Electoral Commission in improving its overall effectiveness.