Indemnity for Returning Officers at UK Parliamentary elections

The Cabinet Office will continue to indemnify Returning Officers in England, Scotland and Wales against uninsured claims that arise out of the conduct of their duties in the course of a UK parliamentary election or by-election taking place up to 1 May 2024. This is because for the purposes of UK Parliamentary elections, Returning Officers and Acting Returning Officers throughout Great Britain are statutorily independent officers and are separate from both central and local government. As a result, they are exposed to a variety of legal risks and challenges.