Political Funding Of Parties Flashcards
What are some key principles of left wing parties?
Desiring change, reform and a,terrain to the way that society operates
In favour of big government, large welfare state
High taxes, high public spending
What are some principles of right wing parties?
Supporting the conservation of the status quo
Stressing the importance of Oder stability, hierarchy and private property
In favour of small gov -individualism and self determination, lower taxes, lower public funding
Why political parties need funding?
Elections[ advertising, campaign]
Carry out research and developing policies and manifestos
Employing special advisors and full time member of staff
How are parties currently funded?
Membership subscriptions
Members pay e.g Labour Party members pay £4.38 per month and there are currently around 430000 members
Trade unions [labour]
.membership fees, donations
2016 trade union act, passed by cons harmed Labour Party funding from trade unions- choice to opt into making payments, rather than automatically being opted in as they were before.
Some public funding from the state for oppositions in order to support their activities,as they lack the support of the civil service.
- short money= only available if they win either 2 seats in the hoc at elections
- cranborne money= oppositions in the hol
What were the issues of the 2000 political parties, elections and referendum act?
In an attempt to overcome the perception that party funding was undemocratic, the independent electoral commission was established to supervise election campaign spending by parties. Made sure that donations came from permissible sources and that donations over £7500 must be reported.
What were some scandals?
Cash for peerages 2006-7= individuals who had loaned sig money to Labour Party and those individuals being nominated by pm Blair for life peerages in Hol
Bernie ecclestone = a motor racing boss, had donated £1mil to Labour within months of Blair becoming pm in 1997- it was alleged that there was a link between this and a delay in implementing a ban on Tabacco advertising in f1 racing = forced him to justify himself on tv and said that the events weren’t connected but the money was subsequently returned.
Russian influence in the con party= bj- over £2mil donations were linked to Russia, raising major security concerns- included evgeny lebeder who was made a peer by bj- widespread attempts by Russia to try and influence votes in the brexit referendum
