Funding Of Poltical Parties Flashcards
How are parties funded ?
- membership subscription from members
- donations from supporters
- loans from wealthy individuals or bank
How does labour receive contribution of funds ?
Trade union
How does conservatives get their funds ?
Wealthy individuals or businesses
What happened in the 2000 for funding parties ?
Funding of parties was regulated
What was the funding of Parties regulated by ?
Funding was regulated by the 2000 political parties , elections and referendums Act
What regulations did 2000 political parties , election and referendum act set ?
- people not on the UK electoral roll could not make donations
- donations over 500 pounds had to be declared
- limited placed on how much could be spent on parliamentary election
The regulation of spending was further developed with what ?
2009 political parties and election act
Why was the 2009 political parties and election act set in place ?
MPS expenses scandals that gave the commission the power to investigate and impose fines and restrictions on donation from non uk resident
What was the expense scandal of MP in 2009 ?
Westminister expenses scandal
Why is funding controversial by funding large donors represent hidden and unaccountable form of political influence (
Parties are not allowed to change policies due to donations but donors expect return for their investment
How can funding be corrupt for funding controversy?
Some donors may expect to receive honour from party leader e.g knighthood in return for their generosity
Some donors may expect to receive honour from party leader e.g knighthood in return for their generosity , what is this called ?
‘Cash for honours’
example of cash for honours ?
March 2024 Mohamed Mansour , buisness man who donated 5 million to tories gets a knighthood on the recommendation of Rishi sunak but the opposition called for Sunak to return the donation as emerged that Mansour family company was still operating in Russia after invasion in Ukraine
What made parties even more reliant on donors and how did this lead to controversy of funding ?
Decline of Party membership which opened the possibility of corruption as would purchase political influence
Example of labour funding in 2023
Fran Perrin, a daughter of the peer David Sainsbury, is Labour’s biggest ever female donor. She started giving large sums from 2021 and has now donated more than £2.3m.
