donations

• Another form of freedom of expression and association
• Donors seek favourable policies and treatment for interests
• Labour gains donations from trade unions
• Conservatives receive corporate funding in exchange for policies for low corporate tax
• Cash for hands - peerages in exchange for donations
• A decline in party membership has encouraged a reliance to donations
• Smaller parties are unlikely to get donations because they are hardly in power, so do not have regular income and are disadvantaged e.g. Women’s Equality Party £850,000 and Conservatives £67,000,000
• 2000 Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act

  • Emphasised transparency of donations rather than controlling how much can be donated
  • Made more robust after 2009 Expenses Scandal
• Electoral Commission imposes fines, investigates and restricts non-UK donations
• For - political parties widen their engagement within civil society and hence become more responsive to concerns and ideas outside members and core support
• For - another way key civil liberties are expressed -> freedom of expression, freedom of association and representation of interests
• Against - donations can be used to seek favourable policies and treatment e.g. 2020 - Jennick dined with donor before planning decision
• Against - interests of wealthy individuals and big business disproportionately influence political parties, often out-of-sight and so unaccountable by the electorate -> leads to low trust and participation