Party political funding
Bottler Broon says he “wants quick funding reforms”.
I’d like to propose the following:
- Anybody can give anything they want to any party
- All Donations must be completely transparent
- No public funding is to be used
- err…
- …that’s it
I think the donation limit is there to stop some filthy rich person, like a Russian oligarch or a Saudi king or even Richard Branson, simply just buying up a whole political party.
It would worry me that one person could have that much influence even if it was completely transparent. Just look at the fuss Labour are making about Lord Ashcroft’s influence because of his donations.
Comment by oxymoron — December 3, 2007 @ 7:04 pm
Oh heck, I’m going to have fun. Well, they did in 1992 onward.
Sleazeeeeeeeeeeeee
sorry, Sleeeaaaaaze
Trouble is, the difference between paying some backbencher a few monkeys to ask a question…
or some non-ententity bonking his PA
is a world away from what this lot do
I won’t even mention the illegal war
or Bernie Ecclestone
or Blunkett resigning
or Mandleson
or Blunkett again
or Mandleson again
or cash for honours…
illegal war again
or ID cards when they can’t run a whelk stall
hmmmmm… give me a few mins, will think of more.
Paul
Not a member of any political party at present.
Comment by pj — December 3, 2007 @ 7:05 pm
and by the way, doesn’t this whole business of the teacher in Sudan remind you of an episode of “Yes Prime Minister”? It could have followed the script! When in trouble, rescue a British woman from a cruel punishment, never mind what the civil service say. Or am I just getting too sceptical in me old age….
Comment by pj — December 3, 2007 @ 7:25 pm
If some Russian ogliarch did buy up a party, (or even if some Walter Mitty Geordie did it) I’d rather see the 4th Estate expose it and the party become unelectable than let the scum just find ways to buck the rules.
Comment by Shades — December 3, 2007 @ 8:37 pm
I think those are the most sensible suggestions anyone has come up with, Shades!
Comment by Welshcakes Limoncello — December 3, 2007 @ 9:12 pm
PJ, have you calmed down yet?
Welshcakes, I have seen the suggestion of a compulsory Lamp-post/Rope therapy Course mooted in the more outspoken circles of the blogosphere.
Comment by Shades — December 6, 2007 @ 12:13 am