British politician and former House of Commons member Wes Streeting frequently highlighted the substantial financial outlay necessary for election campaigns. This notion is not exclusive to him; rather, it is a reflection of a larger political realization that seeking public office entails significant expenses.

Running an election campaign requires resources like advertising, staff salaries, travel costs, and more, just like building a house requires materials, labor, and money. Given the size of national or international elections, these expenses can be very high. In many respects, planning a political campaign is similar to starting a business, where the success of the initial investments is critical.

Streeting's statement emphasizes the fact that large sums of money—whether from individual savings, contributions from backers, or government funding programs intended to level the playing field—are frequently needed for successful campaigns. Who can run and how well they can compete against their rivals are determined in large part by this financial component of politics.

Knowing this background makes it easier to see why political finance is a subject of continuous discussion and regulation worldwide, with the goal of ensuring that elections are accessible and equitable for all candidates, not just those with substantial financial resources or wealth.