LTB 185/20 – INSTRUCTIONS FOR BRANCHES- GENERAL ELECTION SPENDING
LTB No: 185/20
To: All Branches
Dear Colleagues
INSTRUCTIONS FOR BRANCHES- GENERAL ELECTION SPENDING
Regional and Branch Funding
As per past elections, we ask that branches transfer 50% of their political fund to their regional account. This is so the fund can be spent more effectively and we can target spending to candidates who support our values and in areas where the money may be spent more effectively and equitably across the region.
However, branches should leave a minimum of £500 in their accounts- so if a branch had £650 in their political fund account, they should only transfer £150 to the regional account.
If you are concerned about this or have any questions, please contact your Regional Secretary.
Donations
Branches are free to make donations to prospective parliamentary candidates. We strongly advise branches to adhere to the policy passed at the Special Virtual Conference in 2021 and only support candidates who support the union’s political and industrial aims. If you want to make a donation but are unsure of who to support, please contact your regional secretary.
Limits on expenditure
There are several different types of expenditure that the CWU is legally limited in spending during an election. These include ‘targeted expenditure’ (i.e. costs related to pro-Labour materials, flyers etc) and ‘local expenditure’ (costs related to a specific candidate’s campaign).
In past elections, the Labour Party has allocated some of its (much higher) expenditure limits to affiliated trade unions, in order to allow them to campaign more and produce campaigning materials. However, they have chosen not to continue this practice and, as a result, the CWU is very limited in our own expenditure.
Therefore, branches must not incur any election expenditure costs outside of election donations. Firstly, this means that branches must not produce their own campaigning material. An example of this would be printing out flyers with a candidate’s name and constituency on it. Secondly, it means branches must not campaign while on paid release for union duties or seek paid release time in order to campaign, as this would also constitute an election expenditure. This is so we can comply with electoral law.
Members are, however, free to volunteer their own time campaigning and branches are also free to organise voluntary CWU campaigning days, as long as they do not incur any costs (including reimbursing volunteers’ accommodation and travel costs). However, members are allowed to wear CWU apparel when they campaign.
To be clear, branches are still free to make donations to prospective politicians and CLPs. That is not restricted. Also, any communications to members only (ie not publicly available communications or campaigning) are unrestricted.
It is very important that branches adhere to these rules.
Campaigning Materials
If branches want campaigning materials, including flyers and leaflets on the New Deal for Workers, please contact ckoffman@cwu.org.
Branches are also able to collect and distribute campaign materials that have been produced elsewhere (ie TULO materials or materials produced directly by the candidate or local Labour Party).
Reporting political fund expenditure
Branches are required to report all political fund expenditure to Regional Secretaries during the general election period. Branches must also report any ‘in-kind’ donations they may make (i.e. non-cash donations, use of space etc).
Please use the attached form to report any donations or other expenditure to your regional secretaries by 5pm on each Friday until the campaign is over.
You do not need to report any other political fund expenditure that does not have any relevance to the general election. Please also remember that branches are prohibited, by law, from spending general fund money on political activities.
If you have any questions regarding rules around expenditure and spending during the General Election, please contact ckoffman@cwu.org and copy in your Regional Secretary.
Dave Ward
General Secretary
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