Member News
By Tony Grew - 10th December 2010
The electoral commission has published details of spending by more than 4,000 candidates in May's general election.
Candidates are legally required to report to the constituency's returning officer what they spent on their campaign.
They have 35 days after polling day to hand over the information.
The commission reported today that 4,150 candidates stood at the UK general election on 6 May 2010.
"We have received expenditure details of 4,028 candidates, amounting to just over £25.2m spending on a range of products and activities, from posters to hiring campaign office space."
The data reveals that prime minister David Cameron spent £14,184 in his Witney constituency, while his deputy Nick Clegg spent £14,809 in Sheffield Hallam.
Former Labour leader Gordon Brown spent £5,350 in his Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath seat, while his successor Ed Miliband's election costs in Doncaster North were just £3,544.
The spending reports for 97 percent of the candidates who stood at the election – including details of spending for all those candidates who were elected, or who finished second or received over 25 percent of the vote in their constituency - have been published.
The commission will produce detailed analysis of spending by candidates and political parties early next year.
The law sets an upper limit on what candidates can spend on campaigning during the regulated period before the election, divided into a 'long' and 'short' campaign period.
This is worked out according to a formula based on the number of electors in that constituency.
The figures published today are spending by individual candidates on their own campaigns and not campaigning activity by candidates' political parties.
The parties spent £31m on the election campaign.
Have your say...
Please enter your comments below.