Jess Collings
Having qualified with the firm, I am a Senior Associate at Bates Wells specialising in governance, regulation and international work by NGOs and social enterprises (including counter-terrorism and sanctions regimes). I have specialised in election law for 8 years advising political parties, candidates and both NGOs and businesses on compliance with the statutory regimes .
Practice Area
Panel
- Contributing Author
Qualified Year
- 2017
Experience
- Bates Wells (2015 - Present)
- Mishcon de Reya (2014 - 2015)
Membership
- The Charity Law Association
- The Electoral Lawyers Forum
Qualifications
- LPC (2015)
- Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) (2013)
- BA (Hons) English Literature (2012)
Education
- BPP (2013 - 2015)
- Cardiff University (2009 – 2013)
2 Contributions by Jess Collings
PRACTICE NOTES
Consultant Lobbying under the Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014 (Part 1): Scope, Registration, Exceptions, Compliance and Penalties
This Practice Note directs legal practitioners on the meaning and scope of consultant lobbying, and on compliance, offences, and sanctions arising under Part 1 of the Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014 (TLNPCTUAA 2014) (also called the Lobbying Act).
What does the Lobbying Act do?
TLNPCTUAA 2014 is arranged into three discrete parts, with certain supplementary provisions, as follows:
TLNPCTUAA 2014, Pt 1 creates a register of ‘consultant lobbyists’ (in essence, those presenting representations to government for clients) and appoints a registrar to oversee, monitor, and enforce the registration obligations in practice
TLNPCTUAA 2014, Pt 2 revises certain elements of electoral law concerning non-party campaigning (individuals or organisations campaigning before elections who are not themselves candidates or parties). For further guidance and context, see Practice Note: Non-party campaigning
TLNPCTUAA 2014, Pt 3 modifies provisions of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 regarding trade unions’ duties to keep their membership lists current and accurate...
Public Law
PRACTICE NOTES
Regulating non-party campaigners in UK elections: PPERA 2000 and Elections Act 2022 - scope, controlled expenditure, registration, imprints, joint campaigning, reporting and enforcement
Overview of the non-party campaigning regime
Part VI of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (PPERA 2000), as amended, establishes the regulatory framework for non-party campaigners in the run-up to UK and region-wide elections. Although PPERA 2000 sets a national baseline, its application can vary across the UK’s devolved administrations, and local electoral administration rules in those areas may modify or supplement the regime. In particular, amendments made by the Elections Act 2022 (EA 2022) do not extend to the Senedd or the Scottish Parliament. By way of example, EA 2022 inserted PPERA 2000, s 89A, which defines a reserved regulated period
Non-party campaigners are individuals or organisations that carry out activities which could reasonably be regarded as intended to influence the result of an election under the legislation, without being candidates or political parties themselves. Under the legislation, non-party campaigners are described as ‘third parties’. The Electoral Commission oversees compliance and issues detailed guidance on the rules that apply to non-party campaigners—some guidance is generic, while other material is tailored to the particular election in question...
Public Law
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