544:
482:
207:
73:
1077:
198:
is the only major political party in the UK which receives the majority of its funding through membership fees and these are what cover the running costs of the organisation. Membership subs have become a more significant source in income for both the SNP and Labour in recent years, as both have seen
262:
Quarter-by-quarter aggregates of donations above reporting thresholds are available from the UK Electoral
Commission. The following table shows the sum of donations above the reporting thresholds for UK parties with seats in the House of Commons. These figures would not include e.g. a large number
517:
Donations worth over £7,500 to national parties must be declared, as must be donations worth £1,500 or more to local associations. Donations to members' associations – groups whose members are primarily or entirely members of a single political party – also need to be declared above £7,500. This
53:
In August 1976 the
Committee on Financial Aid to Political Parties, chaired by Lord Houghton of Sowerby, proposed that financial aid to political parties should be given in two forms: (a) general grants to the central organisations for their general purposes and (b) a limited reimbursement of
134:
was charged with setting up an inquiry to come up with proposal for reform. It reported a year later. He recommended capping individual donations at £50,000 and capping spending for political campaigns. He also suggested increasing state funding by £25m and expanding its reach.
473:
In addition, there is a general policy development grant available to parties with two MPs who have taken the oath of allegiance. The Policy
Development Grant scheme is administered by the Electoral Commission and allocates a total of £2m to eligible parties each year.
1075:
19:
has been a source of controversy for many years. Political parties in the UK may be funded through membership fees, party donations or through state funding, the latter of which is reserved for administrative costs. The general restrictions in the UK were held in
160:
In
November 2011 the Committee on Standards on Public Life, chaired by Sir Christopher Kelly, published a Report on "Political Party Finance. Ending the big donor culture". It is their 13th report, Cm. 8208. The report made five main recommendations:
887:
254:. For example, in the third quarter of 2009, eighteen political parties reported donations totalling £9,532,598 (excluding public funds). The Conservative Party received £5,269,186, the Labour party received £3,045,377 and the
151:
analyzing party finance and expenditure. The paper proposed to tighten controls on spending by parties and candidates, substantially strengthen the powers of the
Electoral Commission, and increase the transparency of donations.
865:
741:
Report of the
Committee on Financial Aid to Political Parties (Chairman: Lord Houghton of Sowerby), London: H.M.S.O., 1976, Cmd. 6601; Michael Pinto-Duschinsky, British Political Finance, 1830–1980. Washington, DC: AEI,
258:
received £816,663. Donations typically peak before elections. Between 6 April and 6 May 2010 (a general election campaign month) the
Conservatives took £7,317,602, Labour £5,283,199 and the Liberal Democrats £724,000.
962:
178:
in addition to the present "policy development grant" eligible parties should be granted public funding at the rate of £3.00 per vote in
Westminster elections and £1.50 per vote in devolved and European
985:
1070:
948:
811:
909:
115:
109:
27:
620:
39:
191:
Membership subscriptions ("subs") provide one source of funding for political parties. However, in recent times membership has declined and campaign costs have grown.
1296:
42:. Although this landmark legislation was concerned with constituency candidates, their campaign expenses and their agents only, all other efforts to create a
522:
where donors can donate larger sums to local candidates while remaining anonymous, by channeling those donations through a members' association such as the
1136:
65:
scandal, concern grew even more. A concern of the 1970s had been that the major parties were unable to raise sufficient funds to operate successfully.
122:
and required all political parties to register with it, set down accounting requirements for political parties, and introduced controls on donations.
645:
459:
1276:
1269:
1217:
732:
Report of the
Committee on Financial Aid to Political Parties, chaired by Lord Houghton of Sowerby, London: H.M.S.O, 1976, Cmnd. 6601, p. xv.
119:
1109:
1044:
Johnston, Ronald J./ Pattie, Charles J.: 'The Impact of
Spending on Party Constituency Campaigns at Recent British General Elections', in:
788:
762:
395:
359:
323:
144:
590:
47:
824:
1254:
1249:
195:
1129:
595:
1207:
610:
1234:
635:
536:
Northern Ireland political parties are exempt from revealing the identity of party donors due to security reasons.
1244:
1227:
1122:
1181:
640:
625:
58:
1222:
1212:
1023:
1017:
585:
986:"Tory dining club secretively channels hundreds of thousands of pounds of funding by anonymous wealthy donors"
1259:
1239:
1186:
243:
22:
1176:
615:
255:
182:
income tax relief should be available for donations up to £1,000 and membership fees to political parties.
169:
1110:
http://www.idea.int/publications/funding-of-political-parties-and-election-campaigns/upload/foppec-p8.pdf
1062:
523:
1092:
1038:
668:
1164:
755:
131:
1056:
470:
starting in 1996 however, there is no state funding available to parties for campaign purposes.
1145:
820:
247:
50:
1925 that sought to end the selling of titles in exchange for donations to political parties.
43:
1170:
1159:
62:
784:
1191:
1104:
1081:
1074:
A. Mell, S. Radford, S. Thevoz, "Is There a Market for Peerages", Oxford Discussion paper
698:
600:
463:
57:
Starting in 2006, political funding came under scrutiny as concerns grew that the largest
246:
relies on donations mostly from individuals and companies; as well as these sources the
467:
543:
481:
206:
72:
38:
The first effort to regulate the financial dimension of political competition was the
1290:
46:
regime started from here. The next legislative step to deal with the subject was the
888:"Party donations and borrowing in final week of general election campaign published"
251:
605:
455:
148:
630:
61:
were too dependent on a handful of wealthy donors. Furthermore, during the
530:
519:
175:
existing limits for campaign spending should be cut by about 15 percent;
1037:(Fifth Report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, Chairman:
866:"Political parties' latest donations and borrowing figures published"
454:
Opposition parties receive state funding to pay administration cost;
1114:
54:
election expenses to parliamentary and local government candidates.
840:
667:
Gay, Oonagh; White, Isobel (10 April 2007). Kelly, Richard (ed.).
963:"Donations and loans reported every quarter by political parties"
1118:
1053:
The Cost of Democracy. Party Funding in Modern British Politics
1089:
Democracy Distorted. Wealth, Influence and Democratic Politics
702:
538:
476:
201:
67:
1061:
Kelly Report – Committee on Standards in Public Life, Chair:
1014:
Report of the Committee on Financial Aid to Political Parties
756:"Party Finance and Expenditure in the United Kingdom Report"
104:
The Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000
172:
affiliation fees if such fees are raised by an "opt in";
165:
Contribution limit of £10,000 per donor, party and year;
1105:
http://www.idea.int/political-finance/country.cfm?id=77
810:
Committee on Standards in Public Life (November 2011).
555:
493:
218:
84:
1035:
The Funding of Political Parties in the United Kingdom
949:"The Electoral Commission – Policy Development Grants"
1067:
Political party finance. Ending the big donor culture
1030:, Washington, DC: American Enterprise Institute, 1981
813:
Political party finance: Ending the big donor culture
785:"Party Finance and Expenditure in the United Kingdom"
250:
receives a significant portion of its donations from
116:
Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000
110:
Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000
28:
Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights
1200:
1152:
621:Labour Party proxy and undeclared donations (2007)
841:"Greener Tomorrow | Green Party Members' Website"
156:2011 Committee on Standards in Public Life report
40:Corrupt and Illegal Practices Prevention Act 1883
1091:; Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2010;
1130:
8:
750:
748:
868:. UK Electoral Commission. 25 November 2009
1137:
1123:
1115:
662:
660:
265:
1048:, vol. 1, 1995, no. 1, pp. 261–274.
118:(PPERA) was an act that established the
1297:Political funding in the United Kingdom
656:
646:Honours (Prevention of Abuses) Act 1925
17:Political funding in the United Kingdom
890:. UK Electoral Commission. 14 May 2009
676:. House of Commons Library. p. 7.
1020:), London: H.M.S.O, 1976 (Cmnd. 6601)
693:
691:
689:
687:
685:
683:
533:, loans did not have to be declared.
199:substantial increases in membership.
7:
1041:), London: H.M.S.O., 1998 (Cm. 4057)
1028:British Political Finance, 1830–1980
267:Donations above reporting threshold
130:In March 2006, former civil servant
819:. Thirteenth Report. pp. 8–9.
699:"Q&A: Political party funding"
48:Honours (Prevention of Abuses) Act
14:
1055:; Hart Publishing, Oxford, 2007;
936:The Funding of Political Parties
670:The Funding of Political Parties
542:
480:
205:
126:2006 Sir Hayden Phillips inquiry
71:
596:Constitutional Research Council
168:this limit should not apply to
139:2008 Ministry of Justice report
914:www.electoralcommission.org.uk
1:
984:Oliver Wright (16 May 2014).
26:to be fully compatible with
636:Midlands Industrial Council
611:Labour Leader's Office Fund
1313:
107:
965:. UK Electoral Commission
916:. UK Electoral Commission
641:Cash-for-questions affair
626:Party political broadcast
59:British political parties
1080:26 December 2018 at the
1065:KCB, Thirteenth Report,
1024:Michael Pinto-Duschinsky
1018:Lord Houghton of Sowerby
586:Cash-for-Honours scandal
284:Scottish National Party
187:Membership subscriptions
23:Bowman v United Kingdom
1177:Grassroots fundraising
616:Affiliated trade union
462:starting in 1975, and
170:affiliated trade union
1063:Sir Christopher Kelly
524:United and Cecil Club
1039:Lord Neill of Bladen
910:"Donations accepted"
263:of small donations.
120:Electoral Commission
1165:Corporate donations
789:Ministry of Justice
763:Ministry of Justice
268:
145:Ministry of Justice
132:Sir Hayden Phillips
1012:Houghton Report –
591:Cash for Influence
554:. You can help by
529:For a while, as a
492:. You can help by
275:Conservative Party
266:
244:Conservative Party
217:. You can help by
143:In June 2008, the
83:. You can help by
1284:
1283:
1146:Political finance
845:greenparty.org.uk
572:
571:
510:
509:
447:
446:
281:Liberal Democrats
256:Liberal Democrats
235:
234:
101:
100:
44:political finance
1304:
1228:Party foundation
1171:Follow the money
1160:Campaign finance
1139:
1132:
1125:
1116:
1051:Keith D. Ewing,
1001:
1000:
998:
996:
981:
975:
974:
972:
970:
959:
953:
952:
945:
939:
932:
926:
925:
923:
921:
906:
900:
899:
897:
895:
884:
878:
877:
875:
873:
862:
856:
855:
853:
851:
837:
831:
830:
818:
807:
801:
800:
798:
796:
781:
775:
774:
772:
770:
760:
752:
743:
739:
733:
730:
724:
721:
715:
714:
712:
710:
695:
678:
677:
675:
664:
567:
564:
546:
539:
505:
502:
484:
477:
460:House of Commons
269:
230:
227:
209:
202:
96:
93:
75:
68:
63:Cash for Honours
1312:
1311:
1307:
1306:
1305:
1303:
1302:
1301:
1287:
1286:
1285:
1280:
1272:
1196:
1192:Party subsidies
1182:Party broadcast
1148:
1143:
1101:
1082:Wayback Machine
1033:Neill Report –
1009:
1007:Further reading
1004:
994:
992:
990:The Independent
983:
982:
978:
968:
966:
961:
960:
956:
947:
946:
942:
933:
929:
919:
917:
908:
907:
903:
893:
891:
886:
885:
881:
871:
869:
864:
863:
859:
849:
847:
839:
838:
834:
827:
816:
809:
808:
804:
794:
792:
783:
782:
778:
768:
766:
758:
754:
753:
746:
740:
736:
731:
727:
722:
718:
708:
706:
697:
696:
681:
673:
666:
665:
658:
654:
601:Cranborne Money
582:
577:
568:
562:
559:
552:needs expansion
515:
506:
500:
497:
490:needs expansion
464:Cranborne Money
452:
240:
231:
225:
222:
215:needs expansion
189:
158:
141:
128:
112:
106:
97:
91:
88:
81:needs expansion
36:
12:
11:
5:
1310:
1308:
1300:
1299:
1289:
1288:
1282:
1281:
1277:European Union
1274:
1273:
1267:
1265:United Kingdom
1262:
1257:
1252:
1247:
1242:
1237:
1232:
1231:
1230:
1220:
1215:
1210:
1204:
1202:
1198:
1197:
1195:
1194:
1189:
1184:
1179:
1174:
1167:
1162:
1156:
1154:
1150:
1149:
1144:
1142:
1141:
1134:
1127:
1119:
1113:
1112:
1107:
1100:
1099:External links
1097:
1096:
1095:
1087:J. Rowbottom,
1085:
1072:
1059:
1049:
1046:Party Politics
1042:
1031:
1021:
1008:
1005:
1003:
1002:
976:
954:
940:
927:
901:
879:
857:
832:
825:
802:
791:. 16 June 2008
776:
765:. 16 June 2008
744:
734:
725:
716:
705:. 20 July 2007
679:
655:
653:
650:
649:
648:
643:
638:
633:
628:
623:
618:
613:
608:
603:
598:
593:
588:
581:
578:
576:
573:
570:
569:
563:September 2011
549:
547:
514:
511:
508:
507:
487:
485:
468:House of Lords
451:
448:
445:
444:
441:
438:
435:
432:
428:
427:
424:
421:
418:
415:
411:
410:
407:
404:
401:
398:
392:
391:
388:
385:
382:
379:
375:
374:
371:
368:
365:
362:
356:
355:
352:
349:
346:
343:
339:
338:
335:
332:
329:
326:
320:
319:
316:
313:
310:
307:
303:
302:
299:
296:
293:
290:
286:
285:
282:
279:
276:
273:
239:
236:
233:
232:
212:
210:
188:
185:
184:
183:
180:
176:
173:
166:
157:
154:
140:
137:
127:
124:
108:Main article:
105:
102:
99:
98:
78:
76:
35:
32:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1309:
1298:
1295:
1294:
1292:
1279:
1278:
1271:
1270:United States
1268:
1266:
1263:
1261:
1258:
1256:
1253:
1251:
1248:
1246:
1243:
1241:
1238:
1236:
1233:
1229:
1226:
1225:
1224:
1221:
1219:
1216:
1214:
1211:
1209:
1206:
1205:
1203:
1199:
1193:
1190:
1188:
1187:Party funding
1185:
1183:
1180:
1178:
1175:
1172:
1168:
1166:
1163:
1161:
1158:
1157:
1155:
1151:
1147:
1140:
1135:
1133:
1128:
1126:
1121:
1120:
1117:
1111:
1108:
1106:
1103:
1102:
1098:
1094:
1093:9780521700177
1090:
1086:
1083:
1079:
1076:
1073:
1071:
1068:
1064:
1060:
1058:
1057:9781841137162
1054:
1050:
1047:
1043:
1040:
1036:
1032:
1029:
1025:
1022:
1019:
1015:
1011:
1010:
1006:
991:
987:
980:
977:
964:
958:
955:
950:
944:
941:
937:
931:
928:
915:
911:
905:
902:
889:
883:
880:
867:
861:
858:
846:
842:
836:
833:
828:
826:9780101820820
822:
815:
814:
806:
803:
790:
786:
780:
777:
764:
757:
751:
749:
745:
738:
735:
729:
726:
720:
717:
704:
700:
694:
692:
690:
688:
686:
684:
680:
672:
671:
663:
661:
657:
651:
647:
644:
642:
639:
637:
634:
632:
629:
627:
624:
622:
619:
617:
614:
612:
609:
607:
604:
602:
599:
597:
594:
592:
589:
587:
584:
583:
579:
574:
566:
557:
553:
550:This section
548:
545:
541:
540:
537:
534:
532:
527:
525:
521:
512:
504:
495:
491:
488:This section
486:
483:
479:
478:
475:
471:
469:
465:
461:
457:
450:State funding
449:
442:
439:
436:
433:
430:
429:
425:
422:
419:
416:
413:
412:
408:
405:
402:
399:
397:
394:
393:
389:
386:
383:
380:
377:
376:
372:
369:
366:
363:
361:
358:
357:
353:
350:
347:
344:
341:
340:
336:
333:
330:
327:
325:
322:
321:
317:
314:
311:
308:
305:
304:
300:
297:
294:
291:
288:
287:
283:
280:
277:
274:
271:
270:
264:
260:
257:
253:
249:
245:
237:
229:
220:
216:
213:This section
211:
208:
204:
203:
200:
197:
192:
186:
181:
177:
174:
171:
167:
164:
163:
162:
155:
153:
150:
146:
138:
136:
133:
125:
123:
121:
117:
111:
103:
95:
86:
82:
79:This section
77:
74:
70:
69:
66:
64:
60:
55:
51:
49:
45:
41:
33:
31:
29:
25:
24:
18:
1275:
1264:
1088:
1069:, Cm. 8208,
1066:
1052:
1045:
1034:
1027:
1013:
993:. Retrieved
989:
979:
967:. Retrieved
957:
943:
935:
930:
918:. Retrieved
913:
904:
892:. Retrieved
882:
870:. Retrieved
860:
848:. Retrieved
844:
835:
812:
805:
793:. Retrieved
779:
767:. Retrieved
737:
728:
719:
707:. Retrieved
669:
560:
556:adding to it
551:
535:
528:
516:
513:Transparency
498:
494:adding to it
489:
472:
453:
278:Labour Party
261:
252:trade unions
248:Labour Party
241:
223:
219:adding to it
214:
193:
190:
159:
142:
129:
113:
89:
85:adding to it
80:
56:
52:
37:
21:
16:
15:
1255:New Zealand
1250:Netherlands
1016:(Chairman:
995:22 February
969:23 February
606:Short Money
518:produces a
456:Short Money
443:£1,917,301
437:£17,061,396
434:£20,128,172
420:£14,536,760
417:£15,562,333
406:£20,017,727
403:£24,886,998
400:£52,919,571
384:£16,664,422
381:£22,067,325
373:£2,019,202
367:£23,126,548
364:£37,775,223
348:£21,321,339
345:£18,031,645
337:£2,171,696
331:£28,678,161
328:£33,620,578
318:£4,151,337
312:£26,388,844
309:£29,366,474
295:£20,945,689
292:£16,358,446
196:Green Party
149:white paper
147:released a
1201:By country
872:22 January
850:13 October
795:1 February
769:1 February
709:1 February
652:References
631:Peter Watt
501:March 2013
440:£4,539,942
423:£4,767,340
387:£4,562,007
370:£7,864,244
351:£7,686,657
334:£7,784,137
315:£8,796,956
298:£4,372,188
226:March 2013
179:elections;
92:March 2013
1208:Australia
396:2019 (GE)
360:2017 (GE)
324:2015 (GE)
238:Donations
1291:Category
1078:Archived
938:. pp. 9.
920:15 April
580:National
575:See also
531:loophole
520:loophole
1235:Ireland
1223:Germany
1213:Austria
466:in the
458:in the
34:History
1260:Sweden
1240:Israel
1218:Canada
1084:, 2015
894:15 May
823:
723:ECHR 4
1245:Japan
1153:Terms
934:Gay.
817:(PDF)
759:(PDF)
742:1981.
674:(PDF)
997:2017
971:2017
922:2023
896:2010
874:2010
852:2016
821:ISBN
797:2009
771:2009
711:2009
431:2021
414:2020
378:2018
342:2016
306:2014
289:2013
272:Year
242:The
194:The
114:The
703:BBC
558:.
496:.
221:.
87:.
1293::
1026::
988:.
912:.
843:.
787:.
761:.
747:^
701:.
682:^
659:^
526:.
426:0
409:0
390:0
354:0
301:0
30:.
1173:"
1169:"
1138:e
1131:t
1124:v
999:.
973:.
951:.
924:.
898:.
876:.
854:.
829:.
799:.
773:.
713:.
565:)
561:(
503:)
499:(
228:)
224:(
94:)
90:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
