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
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