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Tories topped 2008 party spending Tories top party spending table
(about 1 hour later)
The Conservatives outspent Labour by more than £5m in 2008 according to financial accounts published by the Electoral Commission.The Conservatives outspent Labour by more than £5m in 2008 according to financial accounts published by the Electoral Commission.
They show the Tories had income of £32.3m and spent £31.9m. Labour had income of £34m and spent £26.2m. The Tories had income of £32.3m and spent £31.9m. Labour, which still owes £11m to supporters who made unsecured loans, received £34m and spent £26.2m.
The Liberal Democrats got £5.4m income and spent just over £6m. The Liberal Democrats got £5.4m and spent just over £6m.
Labour still owes £11m to supporters who made unsecured loans. The BNP has been fined at least £500 after failing to hand over its accounts in time. The British National Party has been fined at least £500 after failing to hand over its accounts in time.
The commission extended the party's deadline for submitting accounts but it still did not do so in time.
The commission's chief executive, Peter Wardle, said he was "disappointed", adding: "Voters need to be confident that party funding is transparent and that parties will comply with the law."The commission's chief executive, Peter Wardle, said he was "disappointed", adding: "Voters need to be confident that party funding is transparent and that parties will comply with the law."
Repayment Web-based
The 2008 figures show Scottish National Party received just under £1.8 and spent just over £1.7m. The 2008 figures show the Scottish National Party received just under £1.8m and spent just over £1.7m.
Plaid Cymru, meanwhile, spent £678,000 and received almost £1m. The commission's report also shows that Sinn Fein had an income of £1.11m and spent £1.14m.
The Co-Operative Party received £983,000 and spent a little over £1m. Plaid Cymru, meanwhile, spent £678,000 and received almost £1m. The UK Independence Party was given £602,000 and spent £588,600.
The Green Party received £546,000 and spent £541,000. The Ulster Unionist Party spent £397,000 and received £383,504. And the SDLP had an income of £291,000 and spent £290,000.
Figures for the Democratic Unionist Party were published separately in May because they involved sums of less than £250,000.
In reports filed by the parties, the Conservatives said they were developing their web-based fundraising, a method US President Barack Obama made extensive use of during his election campaign.
Pensions deficit
Tory deputy chairman Lord Ashcroft's Bearwood Corporate Services Ltd gave the party a donation of £300,000 and donations in kind of £1.3m.
Labour's statement of accounts includes a report saying its financial position has improved.Labour's statement of accounts includes a report saying its financial position has improved.
The party was paid £2.1m plus interest by HM Revenue and Customs after it claimed, successfully, for a repayment of overpaid VAT. The party was paid £2.1m plus interest by HM Revenue and Customs after it claimed, successfully, for overpayment of VAT.
But Labour has also suffered because of the state of the economy and now has a pension deficit of £500,000. But Labour blamed "adverse market conditions" for the shift from a pensions surplus of £1.9m to a deficit of £500,000.
The treasurers' report blames "adverse market conditions" for the shift from a surplus of £1.9m. The Lib Dems said that, with a general election to be held within the next year, it was "vital to build the party's fund-raising capacity".
The commission's report shows that Sinn Fein had an income of £1.11m and spent £1.14m.
The Ulster Unionist Party spent £397,000 and received £383,504. And the SDLP had an income of £291,000 and spent £290,000.