Party funding reform could be a blessing in disguise for Labour
James Graham argues that the party funding reforms could be the impetus for Labour and the unions to redefine their relationship with each other that both have needed for a long time.
James Graham argues that the party funding reforms could be the impetus for Labour and the unions to redefine their relationship with each other that both have needed for a long time.
Nick Clegg was grilled on boundary changes, the voter registration reforms, party funding, youth unemployment and child detention at DPMQ’s in the Commons today.
Nick Clegg will attack “vested interests” in his speech this afternoon, hitting out at Labour’s union link – yet saying nothing about the Tories’ City links.
If we are to restore any degree of public trust in political parties and reduce the possibility of stories like the BIJ’s being repeated in the future there may be no alternative to public funding.
It was reveled this morning that more than half of Tory funds come from the City – double the proportion it was when David Cameron became leader, reports Shamik Das.
The Coalition’s programme to reform the funding of political parties highlights the complexity of the problem, writes Dr Stuart Wilks-Heeg.
They just don’t seem to learn. Barely a week after appointing famed billionaire tax avoider Sir Philip Green to advise the Government on cost-cutting, the Tories have been at it again, trying to appoint multi-millionaire tax exile David Rowland as Tory Party Treasurer.
Two stories in today’s Times examine the shock revelation that the trade unions are due to play a prominent role in the forthcoming election.
Tax dodger Lord Ashcroft donated £4.7m – 78% of money spent by the Tories in key marginals, much higher than the 2% figure they’ve been spinning.
George Osborne’s widely-trailed plans to abolish the Financial Services Authority, unveiled yesterday, appear to pose more questions than they answer. The proposals – to disband the FSA and transfer its powers to the Bank of England and a new quangotest