"The independence of the Electoral Commission must be fully restored to protect the UK's electoral integrity from a future authoritarian government, a new report warns. The Democracy in Danger report by Spotlight on Corruption found the UK government is in breach of eight different international standards on ensuring the independence of electoral bodies by maintaining the government's oversight of the watchdog. It warned current ministerial power over the Electoral Commission, brought in by Boris Johnson, could easily be abused to undermine our democracy."
"The watchdog previously investigated Banks's Leave.EU group after the referendum. It was fined 70,000 for overspending and inaccurate returns, which was reduced to 66,000 on appeal. New polling released by Spotlight on Corruption and Transparency International also found 60% of Reform voters support the Electoral Commission despite Banks criticising the body. Labour is tightening loopholes in the law around foreign donations in a promised new elections bill."
"Johnson put it under government oversight for the first time in 2022, giving ministers the right to set its policy objectives. Speaking to the Guardian over the summer, Vijay Rangarajan, the chief executive of the Electoral Commission, said it was time for the power to be overturned. The point of principle is a government depends on an election to get re-elected, he said. And it shouldn't be able to instruct the people who are trying to referee that re-election."
Spotlight on Corruption's Democracy in Danger report found the UK government breaches eight international standards by keeping ministerial oversight of the Electoral Commission. The report warns ministerial powers introduced in 2022 give ministers the right to set commission policy objectives and could be abused to undermine democracy. Arron Banks said he would like to see the commission abolished if Nigel Farage wins power; Banks was previously fined for Leave.EU overspending and inaccurate returns, reduced on appeal. Polling shows 60% of Reform voters back the commission. Labour plans to tighten foreign donation laws but has not restored the commission's full independence.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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