Party Funding

• How Political Parties are funded?

  • Membership subscriptions from members.
  • Holding fundraising events.
  • Receiving donations from supporters.
  • Raising funds from wealthy individuals or banks.
  • Up to £2 million available in grants from the Electoral Commission.
• Why Party funding is controversial?

  • Party funding favours larger parties; in 2015, Labour raised £51.2 million versus £3 million for the Green Party.
  • Puts smaller political parties at a loss.
  • Funding by donors and trade unions represents an unaccountable form of political influence.
  • Aspects of funding may well verge on corruption such as the 'Cash for Honours' scandal.
  • Steady decline in party membership may force parties to rely on unaccountable and influential donors.
• Party Funding Statistics

  • From 2015-17, the Conservative Party received £11.3 million from prominent figures.
  • In the same period, Conservatives received £3.6 million from property investors.
  • One individual - hedge fund manager Angus Fraser - donated £1,1137,400 to the Conservative Party.
  • UNITE trade union donated over £657,702 to the Labour Party early in 2017.
  • At the same time, UNISON gave £376,242 to the Labour Party.