Electoral Commission fines Welsh pro-independence party

The Electoral Commission has fined a pro-independence party in Wales.

The elections watchdog imposed a fixed penalty of £200 on Gwlad for late delivery of weekly donations and transactions reports for the 2019 UK parliamentary general election, as well the late delivery of its campaign spending return.

Gwlad say they have no complaints about the fine, and that the party is thankful to the Electoral Commission for its work as it would help ensure that all guidelines would be kept for future electoral campaigns

Commenting on the concluded investigations, Louise Edwards, Director of Regulation, said: “It is vital that voters have timely and accurate information about the money that parties and campaigners spend at elections and the donations they and other regulated organisations receive. The reporting requirements are clear, so it is always disappointing when they are not met.

“Where we find that offences have been committed, we do not automatically impose sanctions. On occasion, failures to comply can provide an opportunity for us to work with those we regulate to help them better understand the law and ensure future compliance.”

‘Exact timing’ 

Gwlad leader Gwyn Wigley Evans told Nation.Cymru: “All the information we presented was correct, it’s just that the exact timing wasn’t as it should have been.

“It’s worth bearing in mind that we only decided to take part in this election very late in the day, following Plaid’s decision to enter into an electoral pact with the unionist Lib Dems and Green Parties, so there was an element of rush and hurry about our campaign’.

“We are taking collective responsibility for this failing on our part, so there’s no question of pinning blame on any one individual”.