Women’s descriptive representation in politics has increased during the last few decades in the UK, yet women continue to struggle for parity. One explanation for women’s representation has been a lack of financial resources though empirical research has revealed mixed results. Murray et al. 2023, for example, argue that lack of funding is a significant barrier that women face in putting themselves forward as candidates (see also Lawless and Fox 2010). Others - often focusing on the US - argue that women are capable of accumulating as much wealth as men, and in some cases even surpass them (Adams and Schreiber 2016; Anastasopoulos 2016; Burrell 2005; Hogan 2007; Thompson et al. 1998; Werner, 1997).
Several questions related to the link between campaign finance and gender thus remain unanswered. Understanding this connection is, however, crucial to addressing women's continued underrepresentation, as adequate financial resources are likely to motivate women to run for office and may also impact their chances of securing a seat. Research has indeed confirmed a link between financial support and the likelihood of winning an election (Ferguson et al. 2016; Schuster 2020; Speck and Mancuso 2014).
To explore the ways in which campaign spending might affect women’s representation in Parliament, we present a first longitudinal analysis of the Electoral Commission data on candidate spending in parliamentary elections (2001-2024). We ask: To what extent do campaign spending patterns and received donations differ between women and men candidates, and what impact do campaign spending and received donations have on women’s and men’s electoral success? We also explore changes over time and differences between political parties.
Our analysis contributes to our understanding of the persistent gender gap in political representation by offering the first systematic, longitudinal exploration of the relationship between campaign finance and women’s electoral prospects in the UK. By examining how financial resources interact with gender and party dynamics, this study aims to shed light on the structural and institutional mechanisms that continue to shape women’s access to political office.
