Tory date shenanigans mean next deposit due before previous deposit returned.

[sheoaouhra]

Calling the election now and at such short notice as left many parties and candidates short of cash. Many people who won or did very well in the recent local elections won't have their deposits returned until after the next round of deposits is required to be paid in. That leaves parties in a very difficult financial position.

The cynic in me wonders if this was deliberate....

It’s £500. If you don’t have your shit together in such a way you don’t have £500 you have no business standing to represent people.

It is £500 many many many times over, depending on which party you are looking at. There is probably around £10 million missing from the system at the moment, and it impacts everybody except the Tories

Your premise is totally false.

The applicable rules for Returning Officers are:

1. You must return the £500 deposit made by or on behalf of a candidate if the candidate is found to have polled more than 5% of the total number of valid votes cast in the constituency. You must return the deposit to the person who made it by no later than the next working day after the result of the election is declared.

2. In order to be validly nominated, a candidate or someone acting on the candidate’s behalf must also deposit the sum of £500 with you by the close of nominations.

3. Nominations for the General Election on 4th July 2024 close at 4pm on Friday 7th June 2024.
   **

no, my premise is not false, my premise is the current reality we are working under- and it is grossly unfair. It will be another 6 weeks before the deposits are returned. Meanwhile, what are we supposed to pay the next deposits with? The money we were intending to use for campaigning, that's what.

how is hobbling all the opposition like this democratic?

The overwhelming number of candidates in the 2nd May local elections did not have to pay a deposit in the first place - there is no deposit for election to a council.
Candidates for parliamentary elections pay a £500 deposit - but there was only one by-election in Blackpool South.
Candidates for executive mayors pay £500.
Candidates for Combined Authority mayors (eg Andy Burnham) and Police & Crime Commissioners pay £5000, and for London mayor it is £10,000.

Add up all these deposits and your £10 million estimate is clearly bullshit.

Please supply any information you have about which Returning Officer has not repaid any deposit promptly, as they are breaking Rule 53 Schedule 1 Representation of the People Act 1983 and are subject to criminal sanctions. You should also report them to the Electoral Commission and the Police.