(1)A broadcaster shall not include in its broadcasting services any party political broadcast made on behalf of a party which is not a registered party.
(2)In this Act “broadcaster” means—
(a)the holder of a licence under the [1990 c. 42.] Broadcasting Act 1990 or [1996 c. 55.] 1996 ,
(b)the British Broadcasting Corporation, or
(c)Sianel Pedwar Cymru.
(1)The rules set out in Schedule 1 to the Representation of the [1983 c. 2.] People Act 1983 (the parliamentary elections rules) shall be amended as follows.
(2)In rule 6 (nomination of candidates), for paragraph (3) there shall be substituted—
“(3)The description, if any, must consist of either—
(a)a description (of not more than 6 words in length) which is authorised as mentioned in rule 6A(1) below; or
(b)the word “Independent” or, where the candidate is the Speaker of the House of Commons seeking re-election, the words “The Speaker seeking re-election”.”
(3)In rule 6A (nomination papers: name of registered political party)—
(a)in paragraph (1), after “unless” there shall be inserted “the party is a qualifying party in relation to the constituency and”; and
(b)for paragraph (3) there shall be substituted—
“(3)For the purposes of the application of this rule in relation to an election—
(a)“registered political party” means a party which was registered under Part II of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 at the time by which the notice of the election is required to be published by virtue of rule 1 (“the relevant time”);
(b)a registered political party is a qualifying party in relation to a constituency if—
(i)the constituency is in England, Scotland or Wales and the party was at the relevant time registered in respect of that part of Great Britain in the Great Britain register maintained under that Part of that Act, or
(ii)the constituency is in Northern Ireland and the party was at the relevant time registered in the Northern Ireland register maintained under that Part of that Act.”
(4)In the Appendix of Forms, in the form of nomination paper, for “Merchant” there shall be substituted “Independent”.
A person commits an offence if—
(a)he knowingly or recklessly makes a statement to the Commission which is false in any material particular, and
(b)the statement is made, or purports to be made, on behalf of a party for any purpose of this Part of this Act.
(1)In this Part—
“the appointed day” means the day appointed under section 163(2) for the coming into force of section 23;
“financial year”, in relation to a registered party, shall be construed in accordance with section 41(6);
“parish or community election” means an election of councillors for a parish in England or a community in Wales;
“party” includes any organisation or person;
“the register” shall be construed in accordance with section 28(10);
“registered” (unless the context otherwise requires) means registered under this Part (whether in the Great Britain or the Northern Ireland register), and other references to registration shall be construed accordingly;
“the registrar of companies” means the registrar or other officer who performs the duty of registering companies under the [1985 c. 6.] Companies Act 1985;
“relevant election” shall be construed in accordance with section 22(5).
(2)For the purposes of this Part a registered party contests an election—
(a)by one or more candidates standing for election in the party’s name at the election, or
(b)by the party itself standing nominated at the election.