14.—(1) A candidate may submit a candidate statement to the returning officer (together with the candidate’s nomination paper or at any other time before the nomination period ends).
(2) A candidate statement is a statement by the candidate—
(a)not exceeding 250 words;
(b)addressed to the voters in the Health Board election; and
(c)which relates to that election only.
(3) A candidate statement may not include a description of a candidate which is likely to lead electors to associate the candidate with a registered political party unless—
(a)the party is, on the day falling two days before the end of the nomination period, registered in respect of Scotland in the Great Britain register mentioned under Part 2 of the 2000 Act;
(b)the description consists of either—
(i)the name of the party registered under section 28 of the 2000 Act; or
(ii)a description of the party registered under section 28A(1) of the 2000 Act; and
(c)the description is authorised by a certificate—
(i)issued by or on behalf of the party’s registered nominating officer; and
(ii)received by the returning officer during the nomination period.
(4) A candidate statement may not include a description of a candidate which is likely to lead electors to associate the candidate with two or more registered political parties unless—
(a)the parties are, on the day falling two days before the end of the nomination period, registered in respect of Scotland in the Great Britain register mentioned under Part 2 of the 2000 Act, and
(b)the description is registered for the use of the parties under section 28B(2) of the 2000 Act; and
(c)the description is authorised by a certificate—
(i)issued by or on behalf of each party’s registered nominating officer; and
(ii)received by the returning officer during the nomination period.
(5) “Registered political party” means a party registered under Part 2 of the 2000 Act on the day falling two days before the end of the nomination period.
Section 28A was added by the Electoral Administration Act 2006 (c.22), Part 7, section 49(1).
Section 28B was added by the Electoral Administration Act 2006, Part 7, section 49(1).