Labour: Tories wouldn’t accept party funding cap

Tuesday, 22 November 2011 10:43 AM

Michael Dugher, shadow Cabinet Office minister, comments on a committee on standards in public life report on the funding of British political parties:

"We remain committed to further reform of party funding. We wish to do so on a cross-party basis and in a way that ensures that the public has a big say in all of this.

"This report contains some important proposals which we will study in detail because we want to build consensus for a reformed system of party funding - one that ends the arms race that drives the big money in politics and one which restores public trust in politics.

"It is matter of great regret that the Conservative party has refused to even accept a £10,000 cap on donations or proper expenditure controls. We believe further consideration should be given to tighter controls on spending and whether the proposed cap is set too high. We also have concerns about the proposed treatment of affiliation fees from trade union members.

"In the current economic environment, we recognise that a significant increase in state funding for political parties is not a priority and any such measure would need to command broad public support."

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