| What are Parties, and what do they aim for? | -Parties are Associations of People who have Similar Political Views and want to Promote those views
-Parties want Governmental Power at Local, Regional and National Levels. They search for Power
-Parties have a Formal Organisation, having Leaders, Activists and Followers
-Most have a Membership System |
| What are the main Functions of a Political Party? | -Put Candidates for Office at All Levels.
-Spot and Train Political Leaders
-Educate Public about Important Political Issues
-Make Opportunities for those who want to Participate in Politics
-Call the Existing Government to Account
-Ultimately, Improve Society |
| How are Political Parties funded? | -Membership Subscriptions
-Fundraising Events like Fetes, Festivals and Dinners
-Donations
-Loans from Banks or Wealthy People
-Self-Financing from Candidates. |
| What is the Electoral Commission & Short Money | -The Electoral Commission allows up to £2 Million per Party Available from Grants
-Short Money gives Funds to Parties for Research, dependent on Size |
| Under the current Regulation, how much can
-Parties spend on a Candidate in a Constituency
-What is the Minimum Amount that has to be Declared
-Rules on Donations that comes from Outside the UK
(EX) | -The first one is Influenced by how many Registered Votes in that Area. 2019 Election saw around £10K - £30K per Constituency
-The Second one: £500 if it comes from an Individual, and £7500 if it comes from a Company or TU. During an Election Period, Parties and Candidates must report Donations & Loans worth £1500 more to the Electoral Commission
-The Third one: Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act [PPERA] led to Parties not being able to accept Donations from Foreign Nationals, Foreign Companies or Foreign Governments |
| What are the Proposals for changing how Party Funding works? | -Impose Restrictions of the Size of Individual Donations to Parties [Currently £500] [Donors can give to Many Individual Donors?]
-Make Tight Regulation on how much Parties can Spend
-Restrict Donations to Individuals [Limited Donations and Wealthy more Influential?]
-Replace all Funding with State grants for Parties, paid via the General Taxation |
| What are the Arguments for State Funding?
[Cash for Honours & Firm's Hidden Influence]
(EX) | -End the 'Cash for Honours' where Donors give Money in hopes of being Granted an Honour, or Access to Decision Making. Eg: Lubov Chernukhin [Tory Donor] gave £1.7 Million, and enjoyed Personal Meetings with Numerous Conservative Leaders. [Husband is Close with Putin so]
-End the chance of Hidden Influence via Funding. Firms and Organisations deny such Claim. Eg: £1 Mil came from Formula 1 Boss Bernie Ecclestone before 1997 Election led to Labour banning Tobacco Advertising once it had Won [Labour initially Exempted this Sport] |
| What are the Arguments for State Funding?
[Playing Level Field and Democracy]
(EX) | -Reduce the Financial Advantage that the Big Parties Get, and allows Small Parties - Often they take out Loans which can lead to their Long-Term viability in Question
-Improve Democracy by ensuring Wider Participation from Groups that don't have a Ready Source of Funding. |
| What are the Arguments that goes Against State Funding?
(EX) | -Taxpayers may not Fund what may be 'Private Organisations' and argue Other, more Better usage of Taxpayers Money
-How should the Funding be Dished out. Basing on Past Performance gives Home Advantage to Big Parties. Or on Future Aspirations, which is quite Unknown? 2007 Phillips Report called for a 'pence-per-voter' Formula, which would only Benefit the 2 Main Parties that got the Most Votes.
-Parties may lose Independence and become Organs of the State [If Funded by Gov, then they may be Less Reluctant?] [Public Scepticism if Taxpayer isn't Happy with that Party getting Money]
-Lead to Lots of Regulation regarding Parties. Eg: PPERA 2000 already dishes out a Tough Environment on Party Spending and other Elections. More Regulation may make it Harder to Campaign |
