EXTRA-Funding Flashcards
What % of the UK population were members of a party in 2000?
2%
Who described political party funding as the ‘mothers milk of politics’?
Jesse Unruh
What did Jesse Unruh describe political party funding as?
the ‘mothers milk of politics’
How much state funding do German parties receive?
generous subsidies often over a quarter of their income
Other than public subsidies what are 3 other ways in which parties receive funding?
- subscriptions from party members
- donations
- contributions from bodies
What is the common phrase used when describing when individuals or bodies pay large amounts to parties?
“he who pays the piper calls the tune”
What are the 4 types of expense needed to finance British parties?
1) Maintaining party headquarters
2) Maintaining a reverse fund
3) Campaign costs
4) Local constituencies’ expenses
Why is money needed for maintaining party headquarters?a
as money is needed to fund research, pamphlets and publicity materials
Why is money needed for a reverse fund?
In sudden cases of emergency, such as a new roof at party headquarters or other major capital repairs
How much did the Conservatives spend in the 1997 campaign?
20m
How much did Labour spend in the 1997 campaign?
15m
How much did the Liberal Democrats spend in the 1997 campaign?
3.5m
What is the legal limit to spend on constituency election campaigning?
c£6,000
What is the money called which is given to Her Majesty’s Official Opposition?
Short Money
When was short money first introduced?
1975
how much did short money amount to in 2006/2007?
£7m
At election time what type of facilities are made free? (2)
- mailing
- air time
Briefly what are the 4 arguments in favour of state aid for political parties?
1) Party activity is essential to democratic government
2) Help reduces party dependance on backers
3) Parties to the centre left suffer a disadvantage
4) Parties face difficulties due to the amount of elections and referendums
What are the 5 arguments against state aid for political parties?
1) Nothing wrong with institutional backing
2) Politics is a voluntary activity
3) Public cannot be expected to bail out parties
4) Evidence of abuse and corruption
5) The time is not ripe
How is state funding essential to a democratic government?
because parties would be able to carry out their functions if they were better funded
How is state funding essential due to the disadvantages those on the centre left face?
Conservative strength lies in the middle and upper class and therefore have members who are in a more able position to fund their party generously.
What year (and what happened in this year) is an example of when parties faced difficulties due to the many elections and referendums?
1997 where there was a general election, local elections and later in the year 2 referendums on devolution.
Why is state funding not necessary because there is nothing wrong with institutional backing?
As long as the process is open receiving financial support from interested bodies is not a bad thing.
Why should state funding not be given because politics is a voluntary activity?
If a party is popular with the public then they should be able to raise their own funds, if they cannot this suggests that there is a lack of enthusiasm for its ideas and performance
