Online Questions & Answers with Hayden Phillips on party funding

What's in it for us?

Posted by Slim Jim on October 30th 2006

We are currently experiencing the highest levels of taxation in our history. If party funding goes ahead, what possible benefits will the taxpayer see? Unless this proposal is accompanied by much-needed political and democratic reform, it will be seen as just another stealth tax, will it not? We need greater accountability, not more taxation (without representation!).

This question is now closed.

Thank you for your response.

Posted by Sir Hayden Phillips on 30/10/2006 - 14:51

Thank you for your response. I hope that my report can be a key part of facilitating greater accountability and transparency and of ensuring that the regulatory process is strengthened. It will then be up to Government and subsequently Parliament to decide whether they are prepared to accept such recommendations or not.

'Third, if I recommend more

Posted by Slim Jim on 30/10/2006 - 14:34

'Third, if I recommend more public funds for parties, that will not only require greater accountability and transparency but also place an even clearer obligation on them to engage better with the electorate. It is this part of political and democratic reform to use your own words, with which my review is engaged.'

Sir Hayden, it is this proposal that I am interested in. I am glad that you agree that more accountability and transparency are needed, but how exactly can that be facilitated? After all, the people with the power to make changes are unlikely to make themselves MORE accountable, when they've been doing the opposite for a number of years!

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By talking of “Party

Posted by Sir Hayden Phillips on 30/10/2006 - 14:24

By talking of “Party Funding” going ahead, I assume you mean providing more public funds for political parties. I want to underline that no decisions have yet been made about this or any other aspect of a new system of funding for political parties. However I would make three points in response to your general views.
First, a substantial sum of public money already goes to political parties under the existing system, and much of it is long standing. Second, even if no more public funds went in future to political parties, other changes to the party funding system should be directed towards encouraging parties to make better contact with the voters than they do now. Third, if I recommend more public funds for parties, that will not only require greater accountability and transparency but also place an even clearer obligation on them to engage better with the electorate. It is this part of political and democratic reform to use your own words, with which my review is engaged.

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