This is the first comprehensive guide to the rules of organised political activity in Britain and the standards of conduct expected of those involved in it.
Organised politics involves not only political parties (their members, leaders, officials, and elected representatives in local and national governments) but also trade unions, charities, lobbyists and others. This book codifies the statutory and case law regulating their activity, including much not addressed elsewhere.
It provides detailed and practical guidance on establishing and operating political parties, the rights of party members and powers of committees, electing party leaders, selecting candidates, party discipline, controlling political factions, holding meetings, political campaigning by charities and trade unions, lobbying, Parliamentary conduct and standards, and other matters.
This accessible guide is designed for those needing to ensure that political office-holders act lawfully, for those who want to hold them to account, for lawyers, politicians (e.g. MPs, peers, local councillors, mayors, and electoral candidates) ordinary party members and others involved in political activity, and for students and everyone interested in how politics works.
Part I
1. The Right to Organise
a. Political Parties’ Status in Parliament
b. Protection under the Constitution
c. Protections under the European Convention on Human Rights
2. Establishing a Political Party
a. Establishment
b. Registering To Undertake Political Activity
3. Operating a Political Party
a. Members
b. Governing Committees
c. Central Party Officers
d. Party Conferences
e. Uniforms, Insignia And Militarism
4. Local Political Parties
a. Local Party Bodies
b. Legal Status of Constituency Parties
c. Financial Affairs of Constituency Parties
d. Local Party Meetings: Order and Participation
e. Political Clubs
5. Internal And Leadership Elections
a. Internal Elections
b. Leadership Elections
6. Selecting Candidates For Public Elections
a. Selecting Candidates
b. Positive Action
7. Political Discipline: The Whip and Political Factions
a. Political Decisions
b. The Whip
c. Factions
Part II
8. Organising Through Trade Unions and Co-operatives
a. Trade Unions
b. Co-operative Societies
9. Charities, Schools and Lobbyists
a. Charities
b. Schools
c. Lobbyists
10. Election Campaign Expenditure: Bodies Other Than Political Parties
a. The Regulated Period
b. 'Controlled Expenditure'
c. The Spending Limits
d. Penalties for Breach
e. Joint Campaigns With Other Organisations
11. Equality and Discrimination
a. The Right to Vote
b. Discrimination in the Political Sphere
c. Political Belief
12. Conduct of Political Parties
a. Principles of Good Governance
b. Party Membership Disciplinary Procedures
13. Conduct in Parliament
a. The Seven Principles of Public Life
b. Standard of Conduct in Parliament
c. Enforcing Standards in the House of Commons
d. Standards in the House of Lords
e. Standards in Scotland and Wales
f. Concluding Comment
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