Donations to Candidates at Election Time: A Hidden Source of Mass Party Funding?

Abstract The UK generally has a relatively transparent political finance regime, with donations to political parties being published quarterly, and more regularly during general election periods. However, we identify a notable lack of transparency regarding donations made directly to candidates as opposed to parties during the election period. Based on an analysis of candidate returns provided to us by the Electoral Commission, we estimate that over £3.4 million was donated this way at the 2019 election, with almost no ability for citizens to identify the sources of these donations. We argue that this is a significant loophole in the UK's political finance regulations and set out three straightforward steps that the Electoral Commission and parliamentary authorities should take to address it.