205.Section 3 of the Referendum Act 1975 identified two umbrella campaign organisations (‘Britain in Europe’ and the ‘National Referendum Campaign’) which had emerged since the then government announced its intention to hold a referendum on continued membership of the Common Market. Section 108 enables the Electoral Commission to designate similar umbrella organisations in any referendum to which Part VII applies.
206.Where there are only two possible outcomes in a particular referendum (as has been the case with seven of the eight national or regional referendums held to date), subsection (2) provides that the Commission may designate one umbrella organisation for each of these outcomes. The Commission may not designate an umbrella campaign organisation for one side but not the other.
207.Where there are more than two possible outcomes (as was the case in the 1997 referendum on Scottish devolution), the Commission may designate an umbrella organisation for each of the possible outcomes specified by the Secretary of State (subsections (3) and (4)).
Commentary on Sections Part VII : Referendums Section 108 : Designation of organisations to whom assistance is available