Political Parties Eval

Question 1

Which party has the biggest membership?

Answer 1

Labour

Question 2

Are membership fees the most effective source of party funding?

Answer 2

• Political parties recieve funding from membership parties from members.
• Labour party has had a rise in membership under Corbyn.
• Memberships are effective if the party has a large grassroots support. Labour has gained lots of money from regular people rather than the elite few.
• This is seen as more transparent, and puts less pressure on the party to promote one of the elite fews wants.
• However not the most effective as membership can vary overtime. Political parties as a trend have seen a decrease in memberships, threatening their revenue.
• Donations therefore may be a better method of gaining money as the Tory party recieved less than £1 million in 2017.

Question 3

What is the current UK party funding like?

Answer 3

• They are mostly funded by large private donations (over £5000 must be declared)
• State funding has been put forward as a new means for supporting other parties.
• The Philips report in 2007 suggested funding per voter or per member from each party.

Question 4

Why should parties like Torys and Lib Dems be state funded?

Answer 4

• Would remove the influence and access private donors have to political decision makers.
• Gives politicians more time to serve the interest of constituents rather than seek funding.
• Minority parties would comepte better if the funding gap between major and minor parties was smaller.