Election expenditure limits set

Friday 06 September 2024

Those standing for election next year will have a £3,000 limit on campaign expenses, after the current States agreed a cap today.

With many of the current cohort either planning to stand again or undecided, many comments revolved around how an 'unknown' candidate could fairly seek election without spending thousands of pounds campaigning.

The States Assembly and Constitution Committee had wanted individual candidates to be able to spend up to £7,500 - with a £15,000 limit suggested for party members.

That was rejected by the States in favour of an amendment lodged by Deputies Steve Falla and Sue Aldwell.

They successfully suggested a £3,000 limit for individuals and a £6,000 cap for party members - with candidates standing as part of a political party able to transfer half of their allowance to the party campaign funds. 

June 2025 will see Guernsey's second fully island wide election - with more than 100 candidates expected to stand, hoping to be one of 38 elected.

They along with two representatives from the States of Alderney will make up the States of Deliberation for the following four years.

When the first island wide vote was held in 2020, individual spending was capped at £6,000, while parties could spend up to £9,000.

SACC wanted to raise both of those amounts with deputies speaking in favour of the proposal this morning arguing that it would help 'unknown' candidates share their manifesto pledges more widely before the island goes to the polls.

Concerns over the exposure current deputies will have benefited from in next year's election campaign were shared by many speaking too.

Their view won through on the day with the individual cap for election expenditure set at £3,000.