Political Parties (Funding, Regulation, Make Up)

Question 1

Why is party funding controversial?

Answer 1

• favour two main parties
• large donors can be hidden and unaccountable
• expected peerage ‘cash for honours’
• lacks regulation/limits

Question 2

What was the ‘cash for peerage’ scandal 2006?

Answer 2

Blair nominated 4 wealthy business men who had lent labour a total of £5 million.

Question 3

what were trends in party funding for Conservative party and the Green Party in 2019?

Answer 3

• Conservatives declined 35%
• Green increased 65%

Question 4

What are examples of cash for Peerages?

Answer 4

• 2006 Blair nominated 4 wealthy business men who had lent labour a total of £5mil.
• 2020 1/4 peerages were Tory donors.

Question 5

Define short money.

Answer 5

Financial support for the opposition.

Question 6

What is the tax allowance Act 2014?

Answer 6

• Marriage tax benefits: Reduced income tax, and ability to pass money onto spouse without injuring inheritance tax.

Question 7

Want are potential funding reforms?

Answer 7

• Impose restrictions on the size of individual donations to parties.
• Impose tighter restrictions on how much parties are able to spend.
• Restrict donations to individuals; outlaw donations from businesses, pressure groups, and trade unions.
• Replace all funding with state grants, paid for out of general taxation.

Question 8

What are arguments for parties receiving more public funding?

Answer 8

• Donations by individuals are disproportionate and unfair.
• Would enable smaller parties to have greater input in democracy.
• Curb influence of corruption and private bankers on party policy.
• State matched funding might encourage participation.

Question 9

How much did parties receive 6 weeks prior to the 2019 General Election period?

Answer 9

• A total of £30.7 million in registered donations.
• Just under two-thirds (63%) of this was donated to the Conservative Party.

Question 10

Where did 60% of labours income come from in 2014-15?

Answer 10

Trade Unions

Question 11

What did the Political Parties, Elections & Referendums Act 2000 do?

Answer 11

• Established the Electoral Commission.
• People not on the electoral roll cannot donate (no foreign influence)
• Donations over £500 must be declared.
• Donations over £7500 must be placed on an electoral register.

—> transparency

Question 12

What legislation has improved transparency of party funding?

Answer 12

• Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000
• Political Parties & Elections Act 2009

Question 13

How much funding did the Conservatives gain in donations during the 2019 election period?

Answer 13

under two-thirds of all donations; 19.4m

Question 14

What are success factors of political parties?

Answer 14

• manifesto
• choice of candidates/campaign
• leaders
• media
• wider political context
• unity
• opposition

Question 15

What are drawbacks to funding reform?

Answer 15

• Little public appetite as tax payers are reluctant to see their taxes pay for parties.
• Likely large parties will be placed at an advantage. Hard to decide how funding will be allocated.
• Donations by individuals are willingly done and are manageable.

Question 16

What was the ‘COVID loans for Tory donors?’

Answer 16

Companies that received taxpayer backed loans to help them survive the pandemic continued to donate tens and thousands of pounds to the Conservative Party.

Question 17

How many seats do Lib Dem’s have?

Answer 17

14

Question 18

How many seats does the Green Party have?

Answer 18

1

Question 19

What % of Britains supported the PMs expansion of stop and search powers?

Answer 19

75%

Question 20

What % of Britain thought the minimum wage was too low?

Answer 20

53%

Question 21

How much funding did the Green Party get in 2019?

Answer 21

£245,000

Question 22

How much funding did the women’s equality party get in 2019?

Answer 22

£60,000

Question 23

What are a few sources of finance for UK parties?

Answer 23

• Membership subscriptions.
• Holding fundraising events.
• Receiving donations.
• State (cranbourne/short money)
• Up to £2 million in grants per party from the electoral commission.

Question 24

What did the Political parties elections and referendums act 2000 do?

Answer 24

• People not on the UK electoral roll could no longer make donations.
• Limits were placed in how much can be spent
• Donations over £500 to be declared.
• Donations over £7500 to be placed on an electoral register.

Question 25

What did the Political Parties & Elections Act 2009 do?

Answer 25

Gave the electoral commission the power to investigate and impose fines, restrict donations from non uk residents, and impose tighter regulations.

Question 26

What % of people do not know where they stand on the political spectrum?

Answer 26

29%

Question 27

Fill in blank: All donations that excess ________ must be registered with the Electoral Commission.

Answer 27

£7,500

Question 28

How much did the Lib Dems get in donations during the 2019 election period?

Answer 28

£1.3 million

Question 29

How much did trade unions donate to labour during tho 2019 election period?

Answer 29

£5 million

Question 30

What was the % increase of donations to the Green Party from 2017 compared to the 2019 election period?

Answer 30

65%

Question 31

How much did individuals and companies donate to parties prior the 2019 general election?

Answer 31

• Individuals- £19 million/ 62%. (Highest share)
• Companies- £6.6 million/ 21%.

Question 32

What is the requirement for short money?

Answer 32

• Secure either 2 seats or 1 seat with a gain of 150,000 votes from the previous election.