# 11 Governance Stage And Transition Plan

## Stage 1: political movement in development

### Trigger

Current stage.

### Required functions

- founder decision authority;
- basic finance and bookkeeping;
- legal and electoral monitoring;
- data protection;
- cyber security;
- publication approval;
- policy-status control;
- correction route;
- evidence challenge route;
- contact and complaints triage;
- safeguarding planning;
- controlled records.

### Public description

Political movement in development developing its policy, governance and compliance systems.

### Not yet claimed

- registered party;
- member democracy;
- independent ethics body;
- audit committee;
- candidate structure;
- active national branches;
- statutory regulator;
- complete public registers.

## Stage 2: organised national movement

### Trigger indicators

Any combination of:

- employees;
- significant volunteers;
- recurring material expenditure;
- public fundraising;
- regular events;
- regional organisation;
- substantial supporter database;
- regular campaigning;
- multiple senior decision-makers.

### Additional structures

- governing or management committee;
- finance oversight;
- written delegations;
- interests register;
- complaints standard;
- confidential concerns route;
- risk register;
- procurement controls;
- documented appointments;
- regular management reporting;
- annual organisational report;
- stronger safeguarding and volunteer controls.

## Stage 3: party-registration readiness

### Trigger

A genuine decision to contest elections under a registered party identity.

### Required

- constitution;
- adopted financial scheme;
- leader;
- treasurer;
- nominating officer;
- relevant additional officers;
- legal entity and address;
- registration-ready identity marks;
- membership and governance;
- candidate rules;
- disciplinary and appeals system;
- political-finance controls;
- accounting and reporting calendar;
- election and imprint controls.

## Stage 4: registered political party

### Required ongoing functions

- statutory reporting;
- annual confirmation and updates;
- permissible donations and loans;
- campaign spending;
- candidate authorisation;
- membership and local units;
- governing body;
- complaints, discipline and appeals;
- constitutional compliance;
- leadership and succession;
- data and campaigning controls;
- public funding and interests records.

## Stage 5: parliamentary or governing organisation

### Additional requirements

- parliamentary-group rules;
- representative conduct;
- conflicts and outside interests;
- policy and manifesto accountability;
- government-appointment principles;
- ministerial and public-office separation;
- public procurement and patronage safeguards;
- enhanced audit and ethics;
- records for coalition, confidence or supply agreements;
- transition into and out of government.

## Transition rule

A stage is not entered by changing website language.

It is entered when the underlying legal, financial and organisational systems are operational.