Patrick Lawrence Q.C. and Can Yeginsu are acting for the UK Independence Party in UKIP v The Electoral Commission in an appeal involving the domestic law on the funding of political parties in the United Kingdom and, amongst other things, its compatibility with the European Convention on Human Rights.
The appeal will be the first occasion on which the Supreme Court considers the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, an Act which made wide-ranging changes to the law relating to political activity against a background of substantial public concern as to the funding of political parties.
The outcome of the appeal is likely to affect the regulatory approach taken by the Electoral Commission in the future with respect to the forfeiture of political donations.