Political donations up
The Electoral Commission today published the 2003 accounts of all UK political parties with an income or expenditure in excess of £250,000.
Fourteen parties reached the higher declaration threshold, including the three main UK parties, four Northern Ireland parties, the UKIP, SNP and minor parties such as the Green Party, Plaid Cymru, the Peoples Alliance and the Scottish Socialist Party.
The British National Party, despite their talk of electoral advance, submitted their accounts in April as they do not meet the £250,000 funding threshold.
The chief executive of the Electoral Commission, said: “Publishing the statement of accounts today means that the finances of the UK’s major political parties are open and accessible to anyone who wishes to see them. This will help to provide greater transparency about the funding of parties.”
The Labour Party reported a vastly improved financial position with an operating surplus of £2,637,000 compared to a deficit of £924,000 in 2004.
They put this down to a “substantial” improvement in donations, from £4.6 million in 2002 to £9.1 million in 2003, improved commercial income from the sale of exhibition spots at its annual conference and tight control over expenditure.
The surplus has largely been used to pay off previously accrued debts but new expenditure has been authorised for a new party magazine and a recruitment and retention campaign for party members.
Conservative Party chairman, Lord Saatchi said that he expected to be able to report a “significant increase in membership” during the coming year and said that the party’s fundraising position has improved “since the change in the leadership. The financial appeal we launched in November, for example, raised more than £600,000.”
Conservative Central Office expenditure has risen sharply, contributing to a £2.4 million deficit at the end of December 2003, compared to a deficit of £0.5 million in 2002. However, this leaves their bank balance at £1.3 million overall, and their treasurer, Lord Hesketh, said that he believes the Tories are in a “fitter state than ever before at this stage going towards the next general election.”
Meanwhile the Liberal Democrats saw an increase in party membership and donations, resulting in a net surplus of £92,000. Their biggest expenditure was the completion of lease negotiations and the payment of a substantial amount of rent for their party headquarters.
They managed though to avoid using their overdraft facility, and forecast that they will have a “modest surplus” in 2004. Their treasurer, David Griffiths, said: “Although it is gratifying to see both income and expenditure increase the challenge remains to raise even more funds to enable the party to build upon its recent electoral success and compete on a more equal financial footing with the other main parties.”
The Liberal Democrats received £1.4 million in donations in comparison with the Conservatives’ £7.6 million, and Labour’s £9.1 million.
