Prospective parliamentary candidate
Encyclopedia
Prospective parliamentary candidate (PPC) is a term used in British politics
to refer to candidates selected by political parties
to fight individual constituencies
in advance of a general election
. This terminology was motivated by the strict limits on the amount of expenses incurred by an actual candidate - regardless of whether the election had been formally called. The candidates were termed 'prospective' so that any money spent to promote them would not come under the limit.
In 2004
, however, the law was changed so that the limit on election expenses begins only once an election has been called. Some political parties had increasingly preferred terms such as "parliamentary spokesperson" on the basis that voters were confused by "prospective parliamentary candidate"; however, the latter formulation still continues to be widely used despite these changes in the law.
Politics of the United Kingdom
The politics of the United Kingdom takes place within the framework of a constitutional monarchy, in which the Monarch is the head of state and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom is the head of government...
to refer to candidates selected by political parties
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
to fight individual constituencies
United Kingdom constituencies
In the United Kingdom , each of the electoral areas or divisions called constituencies elects one or more members to a parliament or assembly.Within the United Kingdom there are now five bodies with members elected by constituencies:...
in advance of a general election
United Kingdom general elections
This is a list of United Kingdom general elections since the first in 1802. The members of the 1801–1802 Parliament had been elected to the former Parliament of Great Britain and Parliament of Ireland, before being co-opted to serve in the first Parliament of the United Kingdom, so that Parliament...
. This terminology was motivated by the strict limits on the amount of expenses incurred by an actual candidate - regardless of whether the election had been formally called. The candidates were termed 'prospective' so that any money spent to promote them would not come under the limit.
In 2004
2004 in the United Kingdom
Events from the year 2004 in the United Kingdom.-Incumbents:* Monarch - HM Queen Elizabeth II* Prime Minister - Tony Blair, Labour Party-January:...
, however, the law was changed so that the limit on election expenses begins only once an election has been called. Some political parties had increasingly preferred terms such as "parliamentary spokesperson" on the basis that voters were confused by "prospective parliamentary candidate"; however, the latter formulation still continues to be widely used despite these changes in the law.