THE Electoral watchdog has today released how much the smaller political parties spent on the Holyrood election campaign in May.

Details have been set out by the Electoral Commission on the spending returns of political parties and non-party campaigners that spent £250,000 or less campaigning at the 2021 Scottish Parliament election.

Nineteen parties reported spending £250,000 or less on campaigning during the regulated period which ran from January 6, 2021, to polling day on May 6, 2021. Altogether these parties reported spending of £623,476 on campaigning at the poll.

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Seven registered non-party campaigners reported spending £250,000 or less on campaigning during the regulated period, totalling £260,220.

Louise Edwards, director of regulation at the Electoral Commission said: “The publication of campaign spending information relating to this year’s Scottish Parliament election is an important part of delivering transparency, which is essential to our democratic process. It is vital that voters are able to see clearly and accurately how money is spent on influencing them at elections.”

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The 10 highest-spending parties that reported spending of £250,000 or less at the Scottish Parliament election 2021

Party

Expenditure

Scottish Green Party

£231,902.48

Alba Party

£214,371.00

Reform UK

£54,504.15

Scottish Family Party

£32,908.11

All for Unity

£29,620.03

Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition

£13,753.40

The Reclaim Party

£10,199.37

UK Independence Party (UKIP)

£8,229.98

Freedom Alliance- Integrity, Society, Economy

£7,387.30

Communist Party of Britain

£6,419.51

 

Two parties spent £250,000 or less and did not submit returns by the due date. These are being considered in line with the commission's Enforcement Policy.

Political parties that spent over £250,000 campaigning at the 2021 Scottish Parliament election have until 6 November 2021 to submit their audited campaign spending returns.

Non-party campaigners that reported spending of £250,000 or less at the 2021 Scottish parliament election.

The May election saw the SNP win a record fourth term in government, with 64 seats, one less than a majority and the Greens net eight seats, their best ever result. 

However, there was disappointment for Alex Salmond's Alba Party which failed to take any seats.

After the election, the SNP and Greens signed a co-operation agreement which saw the smaller parties co-leaders Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater join the government as junior ministers for the first time.

Non-party campaigner

Expenditure

Scotland Matters

 £56,265

Dignity and Choice in Dying

 £44,044

Majority Media Ltd.

 £36,399

Scotland In Union

 £35,424

SB Supports the Union Limited

 £34,444

Mr Brian Monteith

 £33,673

Young Unionists

 £19,971

Two non-party campaigners did not submit spending returns by the due date. These are being considered in line with our Enforcement Policy.

Non-party campaigners were also required to report their donations along with their spending. In total non-party campaigners reported receiving £164,471 in donations. The donations over £7,500 in relation to non-party campaigners’ political activity have also been published today.