Political parties 'cost us £1.75 billion' a term.

by

Ian Drury

[Daily Mail-Political Reporter-April 24-2008]

POLITICAL parties receive £1.75 billion of taxpayer's money between each general election, according to a study.

The research claims hidden State subsidies have soared in the past 40 years as the cost of MPs, MEPs, Councillors and Advisers has ballooned.

Political finance expert Dr Michael Pinto-Duschinsky said the £1.75 billion - more than £437 million annually over a normal four -year electoral cycle -was made up of direct payments, 'in kind' benefits such as free TV advertising, and councillors salaries and generous allowances.

But even that, he said, was a vast underestimate because he had not included benefits such as free premises, use of official cars and telephones.

He added: 'Since the late 1960s there has been a huge and ever continuing growth in such indirect state subsidies.'

Dr Pinto-Duschinsky's report for the Centre-Right Policy Exchange think-tank said there was evidence that taxpayer-funded benefits were used for

PARTY POLITICAL PURPOSES

-even though this was

STRICTLY AGAINST THE RULES.

A chunk of all this money and other forms of political subsidy found its way into

PARTY COFFERS.'

he added.

The research fellow at Brunel University' said his figures exposed as a

'MYTH'

New Labour's claim that party funding needed reforming urgently because state aid for

POLITICS

was at a 'low level'.

His conclusions deal a severe blow to the Government's efforts to force taxpayers to pay an extra

£25MILLION A YEAR TO BANKROLL PARTIES

 

The report also dismissed the so-called 'arms race' in spending between parties -claiming overall spending had remained' surprisingly constant' when inflation was taken into account.

And he warned that increasing

STATE FUNDING

would have a 'tonic effect ' on democracy - because if money became increasingly centralised the parties would have no incentive to recruit local members.

Tory spokesman Francis Maude said: Given the succession of funding scandals under New Labour Government, there is a strong case for a comprehensive

CAP ON DONATIONS

-covering individuals, companies and trade unions.

*

 

 

[Font Altered-Bolding & Underling Used-Comments in Brackets]

APRIL-2008

 

*

 

THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN-IS THE EU COMMISSION LISTENING?

*

Ditch the EU TREATY after IRISH REJECTION

SAY VOTERS

by

Daniel Martin

Political Reporter

[Daily Mail-Wednesday, June 18,2008]

MORE THAN HALF of voters believe Britain should drop the controversial European Treaty in the wake of its rejection in last week's

IRISH REFERENDUM'

The poll comes as the Tories launch a last-ditch bid in the

HOUSE of LORDS

today to delay the

RATIFICATION OF THE TREATY.

And

10,000 people

have signed a

PETITION

on the

DOWNING STREET- WEBSITE

within the past few days

JUNE16-2008

, calling on the

GOVERNMENT

NOT TO RATIFY THE BILL

[WHY DON'T YOU?]

 

Downing Street website is

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Abandon-Lisbon/

*

JUNE 18-2008

 

 

 

 

 

*