Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000

109 Applications for designation under section 108

(1) A permitted participant seeking to be designated under section 108 must make an application for the purpose to the Commission.

(2) An application for designation must—

(a) be accompanied by information or statements designed to show that the applicant adequately represents those campaigning for the outcome at the referendum in relation to which the applicant seeks to be designated; and

(b) be made within the period of 28 days beginning with the first day of the referendum period.

(3) Where an application for designation has been made to the Commission in accordance with this section, the application must be determined by the Commission within the period of 14 days beginning with the day after the end of the period of 28 days mentioned in subsection (2)(b).

(4) If there is only one application in relation to a particular outcome at the referendum, the Commission shall designate the applicant unless—

(a) they are not satisfied that the applicant adequately represents those campaigning for that outcome; or

(b) they are prevented from making any designation by virtue of section 108(2)(b) or (4)(b).

(5) If there is more than one application in relation to a particular outcome at the referendum, the Commission shall designate whichever of the applicants appears to them to represent to the greatest extent those campaigning for that outcome unless—

(a) they are not satisfied that any of the applicants adequately represents those campaigning for that outcome; or

(b) they are prevented from making any designation by virtue of section 108(2)(b) or (4)(b).

(6) The Secretary of State may, in the case of any referendum to which this Part applies, by order provide for this section to have effect as if each, or either, of the periods of 28 and 14 days referred to in subsections (2) and (3) was instead such shorter or longer period as is specified in the order.

(7) In this section, in relation to a referendum, any reference to designation is to designation in respect of the referendum under section 108.