Funding Debates

• Sources of finance

  Privately raised money which can be spent on anything.

  Sources include: memberships, fundraising events and donations.
• State Funding

  Intended for policy research and scrutiny. Include: Grants from the electoral commission and funding to opposition parties in the commons.
• Ecclestone 1997


  In 1997 Formula 1 boss, Ecclestone, made a large donation to the Labour Party. Subsequently, Labour allowed F1 to be exempt from tobacco advertising ban about to come in to place. As a result, in 2000 increased regulation was introduced.
• Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000


  Means;

  Donations cannot be received from people not on the electoral roll.

  Limits placed on spending in parliamentary elections.

  Donations over £500 have to be declared.

  Donations over £700 have to be placed on an electoral register.

  This act increased transparency rather than restricting limits, as the limits were still quite high
• Trade Union Act 2016


  Meant Trade Union members have to opt in for part of their membership fee to be donated to the Labour Party.
• Donations 2nd Quarter 2017

  Conservatives - £25 million

  Labour - £10 million

  Lib Dems - £5 million

  UKIP - £170,000

  Greens - £150,000
• Short Money

  Money allocated to parties to allow them to perform their duties in parliament. The governing party does not receive this.