Card Readers
Important information about donation rules and card reader payments
A growing number of party officers are expressing interest in card readers.
There are some important checks that need to be made to comply with the Law, as outlined in the memo below.
The Treasurer of the local party / group must be confident that the restrictions card reader payments are subject to can be met consistently.
Elavon (Unity Bank) is on the approved supplier list and we’ve looked at Square which has also been added.
You could also approach the bank that your local party / group account is with.
If there’s a particular provider of card readers you would like reviewed, please contact: data.protection@libdems.org.uk
Using only Party approved suppliers ensures we are compliant with both UK GDPR and the laws governing political finances.
The Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (PPERA) determines which donations can and cannot be accepted, and therefore need declaring to the Electoral Commission, the regulator.
The Commission enforces the rules on donations / loans received by a registered political party (e.g. the Liberal Democrats) and its “accounting units” (the constituent state / regional / local parties and AOs / groups).
➔ Your first point of contact should always be the Compliance Team (compliance@libdems.org.uk)
NOTE: The Electoral Commission’s advice is not given with local party / group treasurers in mind - the guidance on their website is largely intended for national treasurers of parties.
