The Elections (Policy Development Grants Scheme) Order 2025

• Citation: S.I. 2025/159
• Sections: 11

Section 1 Citation, commencement and extent

(1) This Order may be cited as the Elections (Policy Development Grants Scheme) Order 2025 and comes into force on 6th March 2025.

(2) This Order extends to the whole of the United Kingdom.

(3) This Order does not affect the allocation of policy development grants by the Electoral Commission in accordance with the Elections (Policy Development Grants Scheme) Order 2006 in relation to the year ending with 31st March 2025.

Section 2 Policy development grants

The Scheme set out in the Schedule has effect for the purpose of the making by the Electoral Commission of policy development grants on or after 1st April 2025.

Section 3 Revocation

The following are revoked—

(a) the Elections (Policy Development Grants Scheme) Order 2006;

(b) the Elections (Policy Development Grants Scheme) (Amendment) Order 2014 ;

(c) the Elections (Policy Development Grants Scheme) (Amendment) Order 2015 ;

(d) the Elections (Policy Development Grants Scheme) (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2015 ;

(e) the Elections (Policy Development Grants Scheme) (Amendment) Order 2016 ;

(f) the Elections (Policy Development Grants Scheme) (Amendment) Order 2017 ;

(g) the Elections (Policy Development Grants Scheme) (Amendment) Order 2018 ;

(h) the Elections (Policy Development Grants Scheme) (Amendment) Order 2020 ;

(i) the Elections (Policy Development Grants Scheme) (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2020 ;

(j) the Elections (Policy Development Grants Scheme) (Amendment) Order 2022 .

Section 1 Interpretation

(1) In this Scheme—

“ relevant general election ”, in respect of a year, means the most recent parliamentary general election before the eligibility day;

“ relevant register ”, in respect of a year, means the version of a register of parliamentary electors, maintained in accordance with section 9(1)(a) of the Representation of the People Act 1983 , which is published, in accordance with section 13 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 , most recently before 2nd February preceding the beginning of the year;

“ year ” means a period of twelve months beginning with 1st April.

(2) Subject to sub-paragraphs (3) and (4), in this Scheme “eligibility day”, in respect of a year, means 7th March immediately preceding the beginning of the year.

(3) Sub-paragraph 4 applies where, in respect of a year, the eligibility day would otherwise occur—

(a) on or after the dissolution of Parliament, and

(b) before the day which is the 28th day after the first day on which the new Parliament meets following that dissolution.

(4) Where this sub-paragraph applies, “ eligibility day ” means the day which is the 28th day after the first day on which the new Parliament meets following the dissolution of the previous Parliament.

(5) Other terms used both in the Scheme and in the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 have the same meaning in this Scheme as they have in that Act.

Section 2 Meaning of “eligible party”

(1) A party is an “eligible party” for a policy development grant under this Scheme in respect of a year if it is a registered party that is represented on the eligibility day.

(2) The Commission must publish a list of eligible parties each year on the eligibility day.

Section 3 Amount available for allocation by the Commission

The amount available for allocation as policy development grants by the Commission in each year is £2 million.

Section 4 Allocation between eligible parties

In each year the Commission must allocate the amount available for policy development grants in that year so that each eligible party receives the total of—

(a) the amount determined by dividing £1 million by the number of eligible parties, and

(b) any amount to be received by the party as determined in accordance with paragraphs 5 to 8.

Section 5 Allocation in respect of England

(1) A qualifying eligible party must receive the amount determined by the formula—

where—

“ E ” is the number published by the Commission not later than 31st March immediately preceding the beginning of the year as is calculated by the Commission to be the total number of persons whose names appeared on a relevant register in England;

“ U ” is the number published by the Commission not later than 31st March immediately preceding the beginning of the year as is calculated by the Commission to be the total number of persons whose names appeared on a relevant register in the United Kingdom;

“ Q ” is the total number of qualifying eligible parties.

(2) For the purposes of this paragraph, an eligible party is a “qualifying eligible party” if candidates stand nominated in the name of that party on the statement of persons nominated in at least 50% of the parliamentary constituencies in England at the relevant general election .

Section 6 Allocation in respect of Northern Ireland

(1) A qualifying eligible party must receive the amount determined by the formula—

where—

“ N ” is the number published by the Commission not later than 31st March immediately preceding the beginning of the year calculated by the Commission to be the total number of persons whose names appeared on a relevant register in Northern Ireland;

“ U ” is the number published by the Commission not later than 31st March immediately preceding the beginning of the year calculated by the Commission to be the total number of persons whose names appeared on a relevant register in the United Kingdom;

“ Q ” is the total number of qualifying eligible parties.

(2) For the purposes of this paragraph, an eligible party is a “qualifying eligible party” if candidates stand nominated in the name of that party on the statement of persons nominated in at least 50% of the parliamentary constituencies in Northern Ireland at the relevant general election.

Section 7 Allocation in respect of Scotland

(1) A qualifying eligible party must receive the amount determined by the formula—

where—

“ S ” is the number published by the Commission not later than 31st March immediately preceding the beginning of the year calculated by the Commission to be the total number of persons whose names appeared on a relevant register in Scotland;

“ U ” is the number published by the Commission not later than 31st March immediately preceding the beginning of the year calculated by the Commission to be the total number of persons whose names appeared on a relevant register in the United Kingdom;

“ Q ” is the total number of qualifying eligible parties.

(2) For the purposes of this paragraph, an eligible party is a “qualifying eligible party” if candidates stand nominated in the name of that party in at least 50% of the parliamentary constituencies in Scotland at the relevant general election.

Section 8 Allocation in respect of Wales

(1) A qualifying eligible party must receive the amount determined by the formula—

where—

“ W ” is the number published by the Commission not later than 31st March immediately preceding the beginning of the year calculated by the Commission to be the total number of persons whose names appeared on a relevant register in Wales;

“ U ” is the number published by the Commission not later than 31st March immediately preceding the beginning of the year calculated by the Commission to be the total number of persons whose names appeared on a relevant register in the United Kingdom;

“ Q ” is the total number of qualifying eligible parties.

(2) For the purposes of this paragraph, an eligible party is a “qualifying eligible party” if candidates stand nominated in the name of that party on the statement of persons nominated in at least 50% of the parliamentary constituencies in Wales at the relevant general election.