Party Funding

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State Party Funding

Advantages

  • Party Funding would reduce the reliance on big money interests, as in 1997 Ecclestone New Labour. Since, there has been many legislative attempts to make party funding more transparent, however there is no doubt that big business donations result in excessive influence or undermine the democratic process.
  • Many argue that it is wrong for the state to support political causes, morally and also practically in times of austerity. However, as in times pf austerity the ability to make donations by ordinary people is more difficult than ever, it is more important to have state funding to combat the growing influence of big money interests. It would be less than 50p per voter per year.

Disadvantages

  • We should not be barred from supporting a cause we believe in. It is our fundamental right to support and sustain causes and interests that are important to us.
  • The Political Parties, elections and Referendums Act 2000 states that parties must disclose donations of more than £5000 nationally and £1000 locally. donations from overseas are illegal, parties must declare donations regularly, in 2010 total spending was less than £30 million, similar to the £28 million spent by the conservative party alone in 1997.

Evaluation

Although State funding has many benefits, such as reducing the influence of big money interests and increasing pluralism, the practicality of such as system is poor and many people would be outraged that their taxes are being used to support parties they do not support. Therefore, I believe that with proper and strict regulations, parties funded by their own supports is the best option.

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