[11] Some British trade unions suggested that the proposed bill was a cynical move by the Coalition Government.

Section 26, Clause 5 amends PPERA to the effect that, when determining the intention of expenditure, "...it is immaterial that it can reasonably be regarded as intended to achieve any other purpose as well."

Clause 11 adds a new Section into PPERA to include 'electoral material' that could be reasonably regarded as promoting a specific candidate or party.

[4] The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) strongly opposed the bill;[19] and a number of charities and other campaigning groups joined in opposition to the bill, including Action for Blind People, Action for Children, the British Heart Foundation, the Campaign to Protect Rural England, the Countryside Alliance, Guide Dogs, Islamic Relief UK, Hope not Hate, the National Federation of Women’s Institutes, the Royal British Legion, the RSPB and the Salvation Army.

[17] The Deputy Leader further explained that the Bill was intended to avoid the setting up in the UK of the so-called "Super PACs" used in the United States.

[20] The former Cabinet Officer Minister Chloe Smith underlined how the Bill was about "extending transparency" during elections.

[21] The Transparency of Lobbying, Non-party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Bill had its Second Reading on 3 September 2013.