Online Questions & Answers with Hayden Phillips on party funding

Daylight robbery !

Posted by Colin McNamee on October 30th 2006

The discussions of the three main political parties are giving bias in their favour at the expense of smaller political parties and Independents and therefore to the detriment of democracy. It will inhibit the growth of other parties and political positions.

41% of the electorate chose not to vote in the 2005 General Election.

With the overspending during the 2005 General Election, which each party did voluntarily, the three main parties are activity discussing the taxpayer to finance their unprincipled behaviour.

A maximum to be levied on monies spent by all political parties equally and for them to have to act and fund raise within the law and be provably seen to do. The use of taxpayers money will be an open cheque to these profligate spenders.

State funding applies on the Continent and it has not stopped corruption by political parties of public funds in Germany, France and Italy.

Your interim assessment indicates an overwhelming lack of support from the public for State Funding, as this is a democracy that counts. It is also their money.

Based on just the above where is there any justification for the State Funding of political parties in the UK?

This question is now closed.

Thank you. I am aware of

Posted by Colin McNamee on 30/10/2006 - 14:49

Thank you.

I am aware of some state funding ie media broadcasts, GE election leaflets and postage etc. I believe that is as far as we should go.

Disenchantment by the electorate with politics is hardly likely to be enhanced by forcing them, through taxation, to participate.

If the parties were in tune with public opinion and had policies developed on principles then the respective parties would not all be experiencing a drop in their membership.

Let the parties develop their appeal for members, as well as votes, thereby increasing their cash flow, cap individual donations and make the parties fully accountable in law.

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We must take a balanced view

Posted by Sir Hayden Phillips on 30/10/2006 - 14:40

We must take a balanced view about this. While I understand the strength of your feeling, it is a fact that political parties already receive public funds and have done so for some time. There are clear expenditure limits on campaigning and I am reviewing those to see if they are tight enough. As members of the public we cannot have it both ways. A lot of people say they want a tight limit on donations. But party politics costs money. While parties can reduce the amount they spend, they will still need to get some money from somewhere, whether from donations for public funds, or a mixture (as now) of both.

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