▁the ▁London ▁Assembly , ▁ ▁the ▁Northern ▁Ireland ▁Assembly , ▁ ▁A ▁depos it ▁of ▁£ 5 0 0 ▁is ▁also ▁required ▁for ▁mayor al ▁elections ▁in ▁those ▁English ▁or ▁Wel sh ▁local ▁authorities ▁led ▁by ▁an ▁executive ▁mayor , ▁ ▁A ▁£ 5 , 0 0 0 ▁depos it ▁must ▁be ▁paid ▁by ▁candidates ▁for ▁election ▁to : ▁Police ▁and ▁Crime ▁Commission er ▁of ▁the ▁police ▁areas ▁of ▁England ▁and ▁Wales ▁Mayor ▁of ▁a ▁combined ▁authority . ▁the ▁May oral ty ▁of ▁London ▁To ▁run ▁a ▁party ▁list ▁to ▁the ▁European ▁Parliament . ▁ ▁L oss ▁of ▁major ▁parties ' ▁candidate ' s ▁depos it ▁is ▁regarded ▁as ▁an ▁embar rass ment . ▁The ▁depos it ▁has ▁been ▁critic ised ▁for ▁making ▁it ▁difficult ▁for ▁smaller ▁parties ▁to ▁eng age ▁in ▁politics ▁and ▁the ▁Elect oral ▁Commission ▁has ▁suggested ▁scra pping ▁them ▁for ▁general ▁elections . ▁However , ▁many ▁smaller ▁parties ▁from ▁across ▁the ▁political ▁spectrum ▁particip ate ▁in ▁elections , ▁including ▁single ▁issue ▁groups ▁and ▁local ▁independent ▁candidates ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁jo ke ▁and ▁novel ty ▁parties . ▁MP s ▁have ▁also ▁def ended ▁depos its ▁as ▁prevent ing ▁ab use ▁of ▁the ▁elect oral ▁system , ▁and ▁being ▁used ▁for ▁free ▁public ity ▁by ▁those ▁who ▁are ▁not ▁seriously ▁cont ending ▁the ▁seat . ▁ ▁De pos its ▁are ▁not ▁required ▁to ▁pay ▁for ▁candidates ▁standing ▁in ▁council ▁elections . ▁ ▁References ▁▁ ▁Category : E lections <0x0A> </s> ▁R ipe ▁was ▁a ▁comune ▁( m unicip ality ) ▁in