Labour outspent the Tories at the general election last year for the first time in nearly two decades.

Official figures showed the party pumped £30million into securing Keir Starmer's landslide majority in the 12 months running up to the poll, over twice the level in 2019.

The Conservatives reported spending £23.9million, the Liberal Democrats £5.6million and Reform £5.5 million - more than a million pounds per MP secured. The Greens laid out £1.7 million and the SNP £799,000.

Adjusting for inflation, the Electoral Commission said Labour last beat the Tories financially when Tony Blair was at the helm in 2005. The party spent £30.7million that year, compared to £30.6million for their rivals. 

Overall spending in the year running up to the general election reached a record high of £94.5million, including £69.3million spent by the larger political parties.

The biggest spenders among non-party campaigners were the National Education Union with £617,730, Best for Britain with £423,997 and Unison with £394,392.  

Jackie Killeen, Director of Electoral Administration and Regulation at the Electoral Commission, said: 'Spending at the general election reached a new high as campaigners sought to share their messages with voters and inform their choice at the ballot box. 

'A record number of candidates and parties took part, helping to support a robust and vibrant debate.

'High levels of participation and campaigning give voters information about the candidates standing, and today's publication shows voters how that activity was funded. 

'Making this information available to voters is an important component of the UK's political finance system, which helps build voter trust and confidence.

'Voters can also be confident that, overall, campaigners are complying with political finance laws and meeting their obligations. 

'We saw high levels of compliance with the political finance laws at the 2024 general election.'