The UK Statistics Authority wrote to Richard Holden about Party spending claims

21 June 2024 · Sir Robert Chote, UK Statistics Authority

The letter, dated 21 June 2024, replies to correspondence of 6 June 2024. The UK Statistics Authority published it as Sir Robert Chote to Rt Hon Richard Holden: Party spending claims. Below are 4 passages from the letter in the regulator's own words.

What the UK Statistics Authority wrote

“In my recent letter to political parties, I asked that parties and candidates use statistics appropriately and transparently during this general election campaign and made clear why these expectations are in the interests of the public and those campaigning.”

“These expectations were echoed in a statement published by the Office for Statistics Regulation regarding the claim that “a Labour government would mean £2,000 of tax rises per working household”.”

“To help people understand the assumptions that have gone into costing models, it is essential that the underlying calculations, data sources and context are provided alongside the figures.”

“To safeguard trust in official statistics, we encourage that statistical claims are presented clearly and transparently so that the public can test the arguments, and descriptive statements, that political candidates make about them.”

From Sir Robert Chote, UK Statistics Authority, letter of 21 June 2024. Read the full letter.

Correspondence

• The letter it answered: Rt Hon Richard Holden to Sir Robert Chote – party spending claims (6 June 2024)

More on Richard Holden.

Receipt