What IPSA funds
MPs may request funding for a range of methods of communicating and engaging with constituents, e.g. to update on parliamentary work or encourage participation in local issues. Funding can be provided for:
Newsletters and multi-issue communications such as cost-of-living leaflets
Letters on single issues affecting the constituency
Materials signposting other sources of advice
Surveys
Contact information for the MP
Information about MPs’ surgeries
Funding may also be requested for costs associated with communication via social media, e.g. the cost of social media account verification such as blue ticks for parliamentary accounts.
What IPSA does not fund
Whie not an exhaustive list, IPSA does not provide funding for:
Material that includes party-political or campaigning statements
Communications about local elections
Data gathering that supports campaigning activity or will be shared with the political party or another outside organisation
Communications that feature the views and/or endorsements of other politicians
Content that primarily serves to promote government policy or party messaging
When submitting funding requests for communications, MPs may be asked to explain the reason for the communication and share details of how it fits within the MP’s parliamentary functions and how it represents value for money
Advertising, publications and social media and IPSA's regulatory principles
MPs must consider how any publications, advertisements or written communications with constituents align with IPSA’s regulatory principles.
Any communications must have a parliamentary purpose and must not be primarily aimed at supporting any electoral campaigning, political party or outside organisation. Any communications must not be explicitly or primarily aimed at promoting the MP’s own political profile.
MPs should consider value for money, assuring themselves that any communication funding fits within the office costs budget and other spending commitments. MPs should satisfy themselves that there is no other more appropriate source of funding available.
When requesting funding for social media verification, MPs must ensure any accounts are used solely for parliamentary purposes and do not feature posts or other any other material containing support for campaigning, party-political messaging or outside organisations.
Example of communication funded by IPSA: cost-of-living leaflet
An MP may wishes to communicate with their constituents regarding the cost of living and signpost to sources of support.
They produce a leaflet that includes information about what the MP and their office can help with, including ways to get in touch and/or surgery details and practical advice on how constituents can access other support services such as Citizens Advice. It also acts as a reminder about government guidance and support measures that may be available in a neutral way without value judgement or party-political messaging.
The MP has received quotes from several printing and delivery companies and has selected the most cost-effective quotes that provide a suitable service.
This would be allowable under the regulatory principles and IPSA may provide funding for the printing and distribution of such communications.
The MP can show they have considered the parliamentary purpose of the leaflet and made sure to not include content that could be considered campaigning in nature.
By seeking out multiple quotes from different service providers and selecting the most proportionate for the needs of the office, they have also demonstrated consideration of value for money.
Example of communication funded by IPSA: subscription costs for bulk email providers
An MP wants to use a service provider for their email communication with constituents.
On review of the potential provider, the MP has ensured that the provider is compliant with GDPR. The MP has also assured themselves that the data collected will only be used for their parliamentary work.
The MP has made their team aware that the service can only be used for communications that are compliant with IPSA’s principles as IPSA will not fund a percentage of costs to reflect the proportion of parliamentary versus other usage.
The MP can show by looking at different providers they have considered value for money and ensured the service will only be used for parliamentary purposes. This cost could be funded by IPSA.
Example of non-parliamentary communication not funded by IPSA
An MP wishes to send out a newsletter to constituents outlining their achievements over the course of their tenure in office. The MP also intends to include a segment criticising another party for their record in office and plans to use figures to back this up. The newsletter states that constituents should vote for their party to see more success in the local area.
While newsletters can be funded by IPSA as a method of communication with constituents, the MP has used this newsletter specifically to criticise an opposing party. Although it may be acceptable to update constituents on their activities through a newsletter, if this is presented only as a list of successes they have had in their local community, this could be viewed as primarily aimed at promoting their own political profile, which may give them a campaigning advantage at a General Election.
This communication could not be funded by IPSA.
Social media legal disputes
MPs have parliamentary privilege in the House of Commons but this does not extend to comments made on social media or other external forums/outlets. Find out more about parliamentary privilege.
IPSA will not provide funding for costs resulting from MP-to-MP legal disputes.
Questions to consider when deciding on advertising, publishing or social media funding
MPs should consider the following points when deciding whether to request funding for advertising or constituency communications:
Does the information in the communication support your parliamentary work?
Is the information readily available elsewhere, or is it the role of another public body to promote (e.g. local elections)?
Could the communications be construed to be campaigning in nature or targeting particular constituency groups for campaigning purposes?
Have you included party-political images or photographs?
Can some or all of the costs be funded from other sources such as local authorities or other agencies?
If you are unsure if any communications can be funded by IPSA, please contact your account manager.
Data collection
Where an IPSA-funded website is used to collect data from constituents, the data collection must only be used for parliamentary purposes.
MPs must not use this data for party-political or campaigning purposes, and they must not share this data with a political party.
Guidance updated on April 2026.