On 17th April, I and some colleagues in the other parties were due to host a cross-party seminar on a Draft Bill to reform party funding regulations. Then Baroness Thatcher died, and her funeral was scheduled to begin in Westminster Hall – right next to where the seminar was planned to take place – that very same day. Since she may not have approved of such cross-party liaison, this was further evidence of her lasting influence. We postponed the meeting until 16th May.
We then got a lively attendance of about 50 people, in a room only designed for 30, with most participants keen to make progress. Only the trades unions seemed especially resistant to change, since they have a real worry that any new law will affect their ability to assist and influence the Labour Party with big cheques.
The seminar discussed the first real attempt to deal with the potential for non-party campaigners seriously to influence the outcome of an election. As things stand, a Russian oligarch – bored with buying football clubs – could try to buy a British political cause instead, and – provided no party names or candidates were referred to – they might be able to circumvent all the limits on expenditure.
In the wake of the most recent lobbying scandals, the Government has woken up to this, and is beginning to put forward its own proposals on non-party campaigning. Number 10, however seems obsessed with the unions: the very people most resistant to change. I am asking Ministers to examine again our draft Bill, which is a more comprehensive package – putting unions and other membership organisations on a level playing field.
Meanwhile, if you’d like to join the discussion, now is the time. Things are developing so fast, we now expect a Government Bill in July. Have a look at www.fundingukdemocracy.org today; you can leave your comments on each clause of the Bill there any time before 30th June, and download a PDF copy.
It was doing reasonably well until I got to the bit that gives parties money from central funds. If I wanted to support a political party then I’d donate directly and cut out the bureaucratic middle man. Any sort of central funding based on votes is always going to favour the incumbents and make it harder for change to occur.
No taxpayer funding of political parties. If they can’t live within the means provided then they should cut back or go bust.
Lord Tyler, TELL me about the inconvenience of people dying. I mean, what is one supposed to do when poised to attend what can be only termed A Wedding Event and then somebody faintly connected to the family pops their clogs (no coroner this time, thank God, otherwise SCANDAL or what?) and the widow only chooses to have the funeral on the SAME DAY? (Obvs, not from my side of the family; retainers are a bit of an indulgence but so very useful.) So there I was, wondering why ME? All that time at Rigby & Peller AND the total nightmare of nagoire or burnt ostrich. Just how awful can life get?
Stopping all politicians having outside jobs in companies is a big issue and needs to be stopped. These positions do influence parliament and are a way of accepting bribes legally.