UK Party funding Flashcards
Where does party money come from?
Party Membership, although party membership is only a small proportion of the electorate.
Companies/Trade unions
Wealthy individuals
Public funding e.g. short money
What is short money?
short money, money is paid to opposition parties to fund administration costs and thereby effectively scrutinise the government. It is available to all opposition parties that win at least 2 seats while securing 150,000 votes nationally. Cranborne money does the same for opposition in the House of Lords.
What can happen if parties rely to heavily on one specific donor?
Financial problems
Why did labour go into financial problems in February 2022?
This happened in February 2022 whereby staff at Labour’s central offices faced redundancy, as the unions Unite and Aslef put him under pressure to act more like a workers party.
How does Representation link to party funding?
There has been a decline in party membership since the 1950s this means the parties can be influenced by rich men who are predominately white and old this creates a lack of representation in the political system compared to the membership style of funding.
Link between party systems and funding = ?
The current system of party funding creates a level of inequality and unfairness in the UK amongst political parties as it protects the conservatives and Labour and keeps the 2-party system in check.
Tories + Russian Oligarch = ?
Tories links with Russian Oligarchs, since 2012 the Tories have received £1.7 million from the wife of Russian Oligarch Vladimir Chernukhin
Example of Russian Oligarch wife is?
She has had social contact with 3 Tory leaders and even played Tennis with Cameron and Johnson. Chernukhin settled in the UK after being sacked as finance minister by Putin and whilst he and his Wife are now UK citizens question still remain such as why in the last couple of years, he has been funded by an Oligarch linked to Putin.
Why is it dangerous that the conservatives have links to the Chernukhins?
He has been funded by an Oligarch linked to Putin. Putin has been increasingly criticised for trying to undermine Western democracy and Theresa May pointed the finger at him for the Salisbury poisonings in 2017.
What is the Peter Cruddas affair?
In 2012 a sting by operated by journalists it was found that co-treasurer of the Tories [Peter Cruddas] was found to be offering access to the PM and Chancellor in exchange for a donation to the party. He said ‘£200,000-250,000 is premier leagues standard…. The first thing we want to do is get you at Cameron/Osbornes dinners… if your unhappy about something we will listen to you and put it in the policy commission at NO. 10.
What is the Cash for honours scandal?
Cash for honours, both main parties are to blame here as they were both found to be receiving loans from wealthy backers E.G. Labour’s Lord Levy was arrested for apparently promising seats in the House of Lords in return for loans. Even Tony Blair was taken for questioning.
Example of undue influence from Bernie Ecclestone is?
Undue influence is created by wealthy individuals for example in 1997 Bernie Ecclestone gave the Labour party £1 million, is this a reason as to why Formula 1 was exempt from the ban on tobacco advertising?
Example of Undue influence by the city of London?
David Cameron in 2015 received 50% of his election funding from the city of London, was this a reward for not ‘bashing the bankers’ with regulations?
Example of Undue Influence from trade unions?
In 2015 Labour received 70% of its funding from Trade Unions, the trade union GMB threatened to sever links with Labour as Miliband refused to give up on austerity measures.
Example of trade unions exerting influence over Starmer?
- In 2020 pressure was put upon Starmer to not support BOJOs Brexit deal in whatever form it takes as it meant that the SNP and the PC will benefit from Labour support in next years devolved elections. However, Labour’s biggest backer the trade union Unite, wanted starmer to support the deal to garner support from leavers of the so-called red wall. In the end Starmer chose his financial backers over anything else.
