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Editor's factfile: Friday April 22
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| Craig Hoy - Charting the campaign course |
What is an election agent and what do they actually do?
Margaret Thatcher once declared that every prime minister 'needs a Willie'. Britain's first female prime minister was, of course, referring to Willie Whitelaw, her able and loyal home secretary.
Likewise, every candidate needs an agent if they are to successfully mount a bid for election. Under the law someone must be accountable for the proper conduct of the candidate's campaign. And while candidates can nominate themselves, in this role they commonly seek a third party for the task.
It is the responsibility of each candidate and agent to ensure that they act within the constraints imposed by Britain's tough election legislation.
It is therefore important that there is a degree of trust between agent and candidate - a failure on the part of the agent could result in the candidates successful election being invalidated.
The agent's 'office address' must be either within the constituency or adjoining the one in which the candidate is standing.
To get around this rule, agents often list the local party's rooms or HQ as their address for the purpose of the campaign.
One of the key tasks of the agent is to ensure that the candidates' accounts are in good order.
Election expenses, which are subject to strict rules, must be presented to the Returning Officer by June 9.
Agents often have a more political role. Many organise the candidate's campaign - with some being salaried to work for one, or a group, of candidates.
They will often liaise with party HQs to ensure that their campaign message chimes with the national strategy and are often responsible as publishers of election literature.
Under election law any leaflets or posters issued by the party must state clearly who printed and published the documents.
There are a few groups who cannot be appointed as election agents.
These include the returning officer or any officer appointed under the election rules, the partner or clerk of anyone fitting this bill, or anyone who has been convicted of election fraud.
Election agents should not be confused with polling agents or counting agents.
Polling agents are the group of party supporters nominated by the candidate to monitor events within polling stations - normally four per venue.
Counting agents attend the formal count to ensure that no ballot papers are erroneously put in the wrong pile.
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