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PARTIES - Evaluate the view that the current funding of political parties…
PARTIES - Evaluate the view that the current funding of political parties in the UK
requires reform.
PARA TWO: Minor parties are underfunded
Parties such as the Green Party and Reform suffer from under funding due to the nature of their party.
Underfunding felt by Reform has also led them to turn to foreign influence. There had been a headline that Elon Musk was to donate £100 million to the party (though this never materalised) this raises questions about the role of foreign influence.
The 2002 Act meant that individuals or companies not on the electoral commission could not donate. Reducing foreign influence.
They do receive small amounts from the electoral commission which allows them to prepare campaigns, though this is clearly not enough.
What can be done about this?
There can be a reform in the system which means that parties are state funded and allocated funds based on the size / success of their party, meaning they would still receive an appropriate amount.
They would still be quite underfunded though as the small nature of their party means they amount they receive would be small.
OVERALL: State funding of the parties based on popularity is another way for taxpayers to leave government with money (they already don't trust politicians with money after the expenses scandal)
PARA ONE: Individual donations can be used to sway political processes
Examples of sleaze: Blair Bernie Ecclestone F1 controversy
Cash for honours worries
Though this an issue most closely associated with Tories due to the nature of their funding, Labour has also been subject to this. EG: Blair. Starmer also has been criticised alongside Chancellor Rachel Reeves for accepting 'freebies'
What can be done about this?
Further transparency. The 2002 Act made it so that donations over £500 must be declared, and donations over £7500 must be officially registered
Restrictions to donations at one time can be made
OVERALL: There are already regulations and banning the size of donations would't necessarily make a difference.
PARA THREE: The steady decline of party membership has meant that parties are increasingly reliant on donors.
Party membership has majorly declined:
In 1951, the Tories had a membership number of 1.8 million. In 2019, they had 180k members
In 1951, Labour had a membership of 1 million. In 2019, they had a membership of 500k. (This had risen due to Corbyn and consequently fell)