Returning Officers Communications, Candidate Briefings, Warnings & Police Complaints - 2015 General Election

The request was successful.

Joel M Benjamin

Dear Kingston upon Thames Borough Council,

The following information is sought in relation to communications, briefings, warnings and complaints issued by council Returning Officer & associated staff to prospective MP candidates, political parties and police in the lead up to, and conduct of, and subsequent enquiries into, the 2015 General Election.

FOIA Questions:

1) Were all GE2015 MP candidates issued with written guidelines including election procedures and spending rules, in line with Electoral Commission guidance? (see below for details)
2) Please provide copies of GE2015 briefing sheets and written guidance provided by the Returning Officer (RO) or Acting Returning Officer (ARO) to prospective MPs.
3) What procedures and processes did the RO or ARO have in place to identify and manage issues threatening the legitimacy of the electoral process relating to MPs expenses? How were they implemented?
4) What complaints were lodged with the RO and ARO regarding electoral integrity and spending issues for GE2015?
5) What documented action did the RO or ARO take to address these complaints?
6) What formal or informal warnings were issued to candidates or political parties?
7) What complaints were referred to local police?

Background: http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/__...

Yours faithfully,

Joel M Benjamin

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Freedom of Information,

Dear Mr Benjamin,

 

Freedom Of Information Request

 

 

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Yours sincerely,

 

Asim Chaudhry
Complaints Officer
Customer Contact Centre
Royal Borough of Kingston

[1]http://www.kingston.gov.uk/info/200232/c...

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-------------------------------------------

 

From: Joel M Benjamin [[2][email address]]

Sent: Tuesday, June 07, 2016 2:14:09 PM

To: FOI

Subject: Freedom of Information request - Returning Officers
Communications, Candidate Briefings, Warnings & Police Complaints - 2015
General Election Auto forwarded by a Rule

 

Dear Kingston upon Thames Borough Council,

 

The following information is sought in relation to communications,
briefings, warnings and complaints issued by council Returning Officer &
associated staff to prospective MP candidates, political parties and
police in the lead up to, and conduct of, and subsequent enquiries into,
the 2015 General Election.

 

FOIA Questions:

 

1) Were all GE2015 MP candidates issued with written guidelines including
election procedures and spending rules, in line with Electoral Commission
guidance? (see below for details)

2) Please provide copies of GE2015 briefing sheets and written guidance
provided by the Returning Officer (RO) or Acting Returning Officer (ARO)
to prospective MPs.

3) What procedures and processes did the RO or ARO have in place to
identify and manage issues threatening the legitimacy of the electoral
process relating to MPs expenses? How were they implemented?

4) What complaints were lodged with the RO and ARO regarding electoral
integrity and spending issues for GE2015?

5) What documented action did the RO or ARO take to address these
complaints?

6) What formal or informal warnings were issued to candidates or political
parties?

7) What complaints were referred to local police?

 

Background:
[3]http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/__...

 

Yours faithfully,

 

Joel M Benjamin

 

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Freedom of Information,

19 Attachments

Dear Mr Benjamin

Please find attached a letter and attachments from Mr Andrew Bessant.

Disclaimers apply, for full details see :
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