Money in Politics

Scandal after scandal reveals an ever-growing arms race when it comes to party funding, with voters often coming second to big donors and spending rules sidestepped. Left to themselves the big parties have failed to find a solution.

Our politicians urgently need to clean up the way parties raise and spend money.

Good democracy always has a price tag. An open, clean and fair model of funding the parties would give taxpayers far better value for money. It would ensure our politicians don’t have to dance to the tune of trusts, union bosses or City interests.

All the parties have been tainted by party funding. It’s time for action.

How to clean up party funding

• A cap on the amount that anyone can donate to a party, to end the big-donor culture that has led to scandal after scandal
• An increased element of public funding for parties, to bring the UK into line with other advanced democracies
• A cap on the amount that parties are allowed to spend, to end the arms race between parties at election time