Now that we know the UK general election is set for 4 July 2024, businesses connected with the UK may look to increase their political efforts or support for a particular party over the coming weeks. While the UK’s campaign finance rules are less extensive than those in the US, for example, they are still notable and there can be real legal and reputational consequences for getting it wrong.

Restrictions on campaign spending apply both to political parties and to anyone perceived to be publicly campaigning on their behalf. There are also restrictions on the donations that political parties and candidates can receive, as well as company law restrictions on making political donations or incurring political expenditure. We explore these rules further in this article.