MR spend tumbled before 2010 general election

Spending on market research and canvassing among parties in Great Britain fell from £3.09m in the run-up to the 2005 vote to £1.85m this year. In Northern Ireland the figure fell from £450 to zero.

The Conservative Party spent the most on market research and canvassing, shelling out £812,992 in total, or £631,677 in England, £144,751 in Scotland and £36,564 in Wales.

Next were the Liberal Democrats who spent £508,748 – £434,553 in England, £36,006 in Scotland and £38,189 in Wales.

Labour, who were in power at the time of the election, were in third place for total MR and canvassing spend with £467,910.

The Conservative’s election campaign in its entirety cost slightly less than the one in 2005, with spend falling to £16.68m compared to £17.85m five years ago. The Liberal Democrats increased their spend from £4.32m in 2005 to £4.79m this year and Labour’s spending levels fell to £8.01m from £17.94m.