Thread by @electoralreform

The report of the @CampaigningAPPG is being launched in parliament this afternoon. APPG chair, @SKinnock, started off by explaining how electoral campaign transparency is bigger than Brexit, we need to guarantee our electoral rules are enforced and the process is transparent

SK outlined the key three areas considered by the APPG and around which its 20 recommendations were made: 1. Transparency; 2. Deterrence (e.g. ensuring fines are no longer seen as the "cost of doing business"); 3. Monitoring.

.@SKinnock said the APPG will now be working to build support in parliament for the report's findings and recommendations, and lobby the government so that action will be taken.

Deirdre Brock of the SNP, one of the members of the APPG, said that, while this report can't be the answer to everything, it is the start of a consideration around our outdated campaign rules. She called for fast action and urgent legislation around these issues #savedemocracy

Both Deirdre Brock & @CarolineLucas emphasised the importance of personal rights & ensuring appropriate use of personal data. Citizens need to know how their data is being used, by whom, and for what purposes. E.g.People should need to give explicit permission for it to be sold

.@CarolineLucas said the @CampaigningAPPG report is one of the most important reports ever published by an APPG - defending our democracy is something we urgently need to do and it's good it's increased on the political agenda, as we can't take our democracy for granted

Finally, Craig Westwood of the @ElectoralCommUK spoke about the recommendations which the EC has also been calling for: 1. Extending imprints to online election material (which the EC has been calling for since 2003!); 2. Increasing fines for election offences; (cont.)

3. Giving the EC prosecution capabilities; 4. Clarifying the split between national/party and local/candidate spend.

Westwood concluded by saying that the APPG's report highlighted new territory which could be explored and that we should look into reforming our electoral law.