Your March Compliance Update | | The Compliance Team are obliged to send Annual Accounts information to both the 2025 and 2026 Chairperson and Treasurer. Outgoing Chairs and Treasurers still have joint legal responsibility for the period they served. | |
 February PPERA Return
The February donation report is due by 10th March (including nil returns). If you haven’t submitted your report yet, please do so urgently.
Donation queries: Lighthouse help: |  | Accessing Lighthouse | | Some users are continuing to experience issues logging in because they’re not receiving their authentication emails. We appreciate how frustrating this can be. Unfortunately, there isn’t a single quick fix, as email delivery can be affected by several factors outside of our control — such as spam filters, server delays, or full inbox storage.
For a more reliable and secure solution, we strongly recommend using an authenticator app. These are typically faster, more dependable, and provide an added layer of security for your account. You can find out how to set one up for Lighthouse here: | | | | If you have any questions about this, please email the Tech Team at support@libdems.org.uk | |
 Annual Accounts 2025
15th March is the deadline for: - accounts with income/expenditure under £250,000
- draft version for accounts over £250,000 (followed by 31st May for the professionally audited version)
| IMPORTANT: It is crucial you meet the March deadline as the Compliance Team has hard deadlines set by the Electoral Commission. Late submissions may not be processed in time, risking a fine or sanction for the local party/group and its treasurer.
NOTE: Before emailing us your accounts or queries, please read the accounts guide as it covers common issues - this saves time and avoids preventable delays due to incomplete submissions. | | | | Minimum needed for submission: | - Exec approval of the accounts (can be via email / WhatsApp to avoid delay)
- Completed Excel spreadsheet template
- Scan / photo of declaration page with Treasurer’s “wet” signature
| | Our final clinics for help with your 2025 accounts are on: | - Fri 6th, 12.30-1.30pm
- Sat 7th, 10.30-11.30am
- Mon 9th, 6-7pm
- Wed 11th, 6-7pm
| | Email compliance@libdems.org.uk for the Zoom link or a one-to-one appointment. | |
 | February Training Feedback | | Our job is to ensure you have the resources you need to do yours and last month saw the sixth annual Compliance Challenge.
We hope you found our training emails helpful. As well as refreshing the content and format (all topics can be found on the Party website), we switched from daily to weekly briefings. We value the time and commitment you give as volunteers in keeping the Party compliant.
Your feedback (good or bad) would be much appreciated so we can better support you - please complete our online survey which can be found below. | | | | Thank you to the following people at Lib Dem HQ who made the project possible:
Nazmin Khan, Lloyd Harris, Esther McGee, David Allworthy, Ewan MacNeil, Sam Read and Will Crow. | |
 | Compliance Training at Spring Conference (Meeting Room 3) Novotel, Fishergate, York, YO10 4FD
The Compliance Team will be running the following sessions:
Sat 14th March - 09:30-10:45 - Introduction to Being an Election Agent
- 11:00-12:15 - Being a Good Treasurer
- 14:30-15:45 - Being an Agent in the Local Elections: Part 1
- 16:00-17:15 - Being an Agent in the Local Elections: Part 2
| | | | | | We look forward to seeing you in person! | |
Local Election Agent Training |  Don’t miss the latest in our election law training and the start of our regular surgeries.
Here's the link to all the recordings and slides so far, plus other resources: | | | | NOTE: you need to be signed up to the Campaign Hub in order to access these (using the email address your membership is registered to). Join here if you haven't already: | | | All You Need to Know About Nominations Mon 9 Mar, 8pm
Ensure you get all your candidates onto the ballot without the stress. This is the next module in our 2026 agent training programme, but will be useful to anyone helping to make sure we stand a full slate.
Email compliance@libdems.org.uk to register for the Zoom link. | |
The Count | | Sun 3 May, 8pm
Elections are won and lost at the count. Every year there are Liberal Democrats whose fate is sealed by just a handful of votes. Make sure you and your team are ready to win.
This session is for election agents and also anyone going to the count as part of their local Lib Dem team. | | | |
How to Complete Your Election Expenses | | Mon 11 May, 8pm
The final module in the 2026 agent training series takes you through the process of completing your expenses return.
Email compliance@libdems.org.uk to register for the Zoom link. | |
Election Agent Drop-Ins | | From 26th March to 5th May, the Compliance Team will be on hand throughout the week to assist with any queries agents may have: - Tuesdays - 6-7pm
- Thursdays - 11am-noon
- Saturdays - 12:30-1:30pm
No need to register, here’s a single Zoom link for all drop-ins: | | | |
 | Corporation Tax | | We are currently in the process of updating our guidance so do check back for the latest information here: | | | | Please email compliance@libdems.org.uk if you’d like us to check your response to HMRC before you send it.
To see if your local party or group was written to by HMRC, please click here: | | | |
Compliance Clinic Mon 16th Mar, 6-7pm
Join us every third Monday of the month to discuss Compliance / Data Protection matters.
Email compliance@libdems.org.uk for the Zoom link or a one-to-one appointment. | |
Slack Channel for Treasurers | Our Slack channel for Treasurers is a great way to connect with each other, share knowledge and is more conversational than email.
Email compliance@libdems.org.uk to register. | |
 | Your Resources | |
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Simon Drage
Deputy Head of Technology and Compliance
Liberal Democrats
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