Part II

Registration of political parties

Registration

Registration of minor parties.
34
1
This section applies to any party registered in the Great Britain register in pursuance of a declaration falling within section 28(2)(d) (referred to in this Act as a “minor party”).
2
The following provisions do not apply to a minor party—
a
any provisions of this Part so far as relating to the registration of a treasurer or campaigns officer for a registered party or otherwise referring to a registered treasurer or campaigns officer (or any deputy campaigns officer);
b
sections 26 and 27; and
c
section 36;
but this is subject to subsection (8)(a).
3
The registered leader of a minor party must, in the case of each anniversary of the party’s inclusion in the register, give a notification under this subsection to the Commission within the period beginning one month before the anniversary and ending six months after it.
4
A notification under subsection (3) must—
a
state that the particulars in the party’s entry in the register remain accurate and include any information prescribed under paragraph 6 of Schedule 4 since the relevant time, or
b
so far as necessary to secure that such particulars will both be accurate and include any information so prescribed, contain one or more of the following, namely—
i
an application under section 30,
ii
a notification under section 31, or
iii
any information so prescribed.
5
In subsection (4) “the relevant time” means—
a
the time when the party applied for registration, or
b
if a notification has previously been given under subsection (3) in relation to the party, the time when the last such notification was given;
and for the purposes of subsection (4) any particulars held by the Commission in respect of the home address of any registered officer of the party shall be taken to be particulars contained in the party’s entry in the register.
6
A notification under subsection (3) must be accompanied by any fee prescribed by order made by the Secretary of State.
7
In addition to being able to make an application under section 30, a minor party may apply to the Commission to have—
a
the declaration mentioned in subsection (1) above cancelled, and
b
the party’s existing entry in the Great Britain register replaced by such entry or entries (in that or the Northern Ireland register) as accord with a fresh declaration sent by the party to the Commission and falling within section 28(2)(a), (b) or (c).
8
Where a minor party makes an application under subsection (7)—
a
the provisions mentioned in subsection (2)(a) and (b) shall apply to the party;
b
the party must provide the Commission with such information as—
i
would, by virtue of Schedule 4, be required to be provided in connection with an application by the party under section 28 to be registered in accordance with the fresh declaration mentioned in subsection (7)(b), and
ii
has not already been provided in connection with its existing registration as a minor party; and
c
the following provisions, namely—
i
sections 28(1)(c) and (3B) to (8C) and 29, and
ii
paragraphs 1(2) and 7 of Schedule 4,
shall apply, with any necessary modifications, in relation to the party’s application as if it were such an application under section 28 as is mentioned in paragraph (b)(i).
S. 34 wholly in force at 16.2.2001; s. 34 partly in force at Royal Assent and in force at 14.12.2000 for specified purposes, see s. 163(3)(4); s. 34 in force at 16.2.2001 by S.I. 2001/222, art. 2, Sch. 1 Pt. I (subject to transitional provisions in Sch. 1 Pt. II)
Words in s. 34(3) substituted (11.9.2006) by Electoral Administration Act 2006 (c. 22), ss. 74(1), 77(2), Sch. 1 para. 143(2); S.I. 2006/1972, art. 3, Sch. 1 paras. 24, 25(h) (subject to art. 4, Sch. 2)
Words in s. 34(8)(c)(i) substituted (24.11.2022) by Elections Act 2022 (c. 37), ss. 23(5), 67(1); S.I. 2022/1226, reg. 2(c) (with reg. 3(3))
Pt. 2 referred to (N.I.) (12.12.2014) by Education Act (Northern Ireland) 2014 (c. 12), s. 7, Sch. 1 para. 3(13) (with Sch. 2 para. 4(3))