UKIP Uncovered
What motivates the leaders of the United Kingdom Independence Party?


Saturday, February 21, 2004 

Legal Requirements and Consequences of the 'Rotten Branches'

Following our post below regarding the creation of artificial branches to prevent a successful call for an EGM, a comment regarding the legal and reporting implications, was contributed to an internet forum last evening. As some of those involved and affected would have been unable to read that posting we reproduce the most relevant parts herewith:

Mike Nattrass may refuse to say whether these new branches have been properly constituted, but the party treasurer will be breaking the law if he does not, within twenty-eight days, notify the Commission (using form RP3) of changes to the details of UKIP's entry in the register. I quote from the 'Notes on completing Form RP3' to be found on the EC's website:

7) Addition or removal of Accounting Unit
This section should be used to notify the Commission if your party intends to register or de-register an AU. If you wish to add an AU, you should specify:

- the name of the AU
- the headquarters, or correspondence address of the AU
- the full name and address of the person to be registered as treasurer of the AU
- the full name and address of the person to be registered as second officer of the AU

You should also indicate whether or not you have enclosed a revised draft financial scheme showing the change to your party's list of accounting units. The Commission can only make amendments to your party's register entry if the amended scheme is approved.
unquote

It is particularly important that the named treasurers of the new branches, paper or otherwise, fully understand their responsibilities because we have now entered the 'Regulated period for European Parliamentary elections' which runs from 11 February to 10 June, during which campaign spending has to be recorded and reported to the Electoral Commission.

Also, I hope all branch chairmen are dusting off their copies of the party constitution in readiness for the call requiring them to split their branch into smaller ones. They will then be able to remind the caller that a UKIP branch is not under the control of head office, NEC or Cabal, but "has the responsibility for administering its own financial and other affairs" (constitution 5.2). It is affiliated to the national party, not owned by it, and cannot be forced to split if it doesn't want to.

posted by Martin |6:31 AM
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