Government facing renewed calls to depoliticise elections watchdog
Statement from Unlock Democracy
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The government is under fresh pressure to repeal controversial Conservative changes that granted ministers new power to influence the elections regulator.
MPs will use Monday’s Second Reading of the Representation of the People Bill to warn the government of the threat to democracy while the Electoral Commission is left vulnerable to political pressure.
The Electoral Commission was established in 2000 by the last Labour government. Introducing the legislation, then Home Secretary, Jack Straw, told MPs that the regulator must be “as independent of the government of the day as our constitutional arrangements allow” and “answerable directly to Parliament and not to ministers.” [1]
Campaigners say Monday’s debate offers ministers a prime opportunity to restore that founding principle.
Bob Posner, a former head of the Electoral Commission, commented:
“There is no justification for the government retaining the power to set the strategy and policy for the independent elections regulator. The simple deletion of a couple of clauses in PPERA will set this wrong right.” [2]
Shaun Roberts, Director of Campaigns at Unlock Democracy, added:
“Fair elections depend on the regulator being free from any hint of political interference. Restoring that settlement would send a clear signal that this government puts democratic integrity before party advantage.”
Concern about potential political influence over the Commission has grown in recent years. In 2021, the Conservative government secured a majority on the committee overseeing the regulator’s budget and governance. [3]
The Elections Act of the following year empowered ministers to direct the Commission’s strategic and policy priorities.
Academics, campaigners and parliamentarians argue that these changes have blurred lines of accountability between Parliament and government and have undermined the Commission’s independent status. [4]
The Electoral Commission itself stated that “the introduction of a Strategy and Policy Statement – enabling the government to guide the work of the Commission – is inconsistent with the role that an independent electoral commission plays in a healthy democracy.” [5]
Despite forceful criticism of the Conservatives’ policy in Opposition, Labour now says it intends to designate a new Strategy and Policy Statement “to reflect the government’s priorities.” [6] [7]
-ENDS-
Notes to editors:
[1] Second Reading, Political Parties, Elections And Referendums Bill, 10th January 2000: https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2000-01-10/debates/8f39fb24-45ba-484c-9332-284fa146941a/PoliticalPartiesElectionsAndReferendumsBill#contribution-b21fffe3-d4bb-4b27-aa1e-f4e9875d9263
[2] Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/41/part/I/crossheading/strategy-and-policy-statement
[3] The Electoral Commission is overseen by the Speaker’s Committee. As well as approving the Commission’s budgets, five-year plans, and overseeing the appointment of Commissioners, the Speaker’s Committee also has the power to examine the Commission’s performance in its duty to have regard to the Strategy and Policy Statement. The Committee on Standards in Public Life, in a 2021 report, noted with concern that, for the first time, the majority of members of the Speaker’s Committee were from the governing party. The Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee also stated in 2021 that the Speaker’s Committee must “be seen to exercise its powers impartially and with cross-party support”, noting appeals “that no single party exercises a majority on the Committee.”
[4] Dr Sam Power, writing for the Constitution Society, 20th September 2021: https://consoc.org.uk/eroding-the-independence-of-the-electoral-commission-the-introduction-of-a-government-strategy-and-policy-statement/
Spotlight on Corruption Briefing, January 2024: https://www.spotlightcorruption.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Briefing-on-Electoral-Integrity-and-Regulation-2.pdf
42 Parliamentarians co-signed a letter to the Prime Minister, organised by Unlock Democracy, calling for the Strategy and Policy Statement to be scrapped, 25th November 2025: https://unlockdemocracy.org.uk/electoral-commission-independence
[5] Letter from Commissioners: Strategy and Policy Statement measures in the Elections Bill, 21st February 2022: “It is our firm and shared view that the introduction of a Strategy and Policy Statement – enabling the government to guide the work of the Commission – is inconsistent with the role that an independent electoral commission plays in a healthy democracy. This independence is fundamental to maintaining confidence and legitimacy in our electoral system.”
[6] Keir Starmer MP’s office wrote to a constituent in March 2024: “In Labour’s view, the Statement is problematic because it raises the appearance of politicians in Government seeking to influence the work of the Electoral Commission. Labour think it is wrong for the governing party to be setting the Commission’s priorities, as this could risk compromising the Commission’s independence. At the very least, it could give rise to the appearance of such a state of affairs.” More information available on request.
Alex Norris MP, speaking for the Opposition during debate on the Elections Bill, 27th April 2022: “It is not for this government or any government, be they Labour or Conservative, to dictate the priorities of an independent watchdog, especially one that regulates our own elections.”
Florence Eshalomi MP, then Labour’s democracy spokesperson, said, 31st January 2024: “[T]his statement is setting a political agenda for an independent watchdog. That is completely wrong.”
Cat Smith MP, formerly Labour’s democracy spokesperson, speaking on 17th July 2024: “The Electoral Commission’s strategy and policy statement makes the electorate question the commission’s independence. If we want to build trust and faith in our democracy, the public need to believe that the commission is independent and empowered to hold political parties and candidates to account”.
Lord David Blunkett, quoted in The Guardian, 24th April 2022: “A free and fair election is the touchstone of any functioning democracy, which is why we [Labour] introduced the Electoral Commission despite having a large majority and the political ability to give Labour an advantage in future elections. Revoking that independence would set a dangerous precedent for current and future elections, and would give an unacceptable signal to the rest of the world.”
[7] Second Reading, Absent Voting (Elections in Scotland and Wales) Bill, 5th September 2025: https://hansard.parliament.uk/lords/2025-09-05/debates/20016794-BE1E-4AEB-995D-9C091C929B9F/AbsentVoting(ElectionsInScotlandAndWales)Bill#contribution-B7879A4B-1E5A-4999-A567-9E8379F548E7