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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Party funding options report due | Party funding options report due |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| Options for changes to the way political parties are funded are set to be published in an interim report. | Options for changes to the way political parties are funded are set to be published in an interim report. |
| Sir Hayden Phillips, who was asked to look at party funding in the wake of "cash for honours" allegations, will put forward suggestions for the future. | Sir Hayden Phillips, who was asked to look at party funding in the wake of "cash for honours" allegations, will put forward suggestions for the future. |
| One idea is to take more money from the taxpayer, but no recommendations will be made until December, when the full report is published. | One idea is to take more money from the taxpayer, but no recommendations will be made until December, when the full report is published. |
| Sir Hayden will warn: "We cannot have a healthy democracy for nothing." | Sir Hayden will warn: "We cannot have a healthy democracy for nothing." |
| Allegations denied | Allegations denied |
| The former senior civil servant is trying to find a consensus between the political parties on how they are funded. | The former senior civil servant is trying to find a consensus between the political parties on how they are funded. |
| Police are investigating whether peerages have been offered in exchange for cash, after it was revealed that all three main parties were given secret loans ahead of the last election. | Police are investigating whether peerages have been offered in exchange for cash, after it was revealed that all three main parties were given secret loans ahead of the last election. |
| All concerned in the inquiry deny wrongdoing. | All concerned in the inquiry deny wrongdoing. |
| Sir Hayden's report will examine calls for the £20m limit on the amount each party can spend at elections to be reduced. | Sir Hayden's report will examine calls for the £20m limit on the amount each party can spend at elections to be reduced. |
| Party politics costs Sir Hayden Phillips | Party politics costs Sir Hayden Phillips |
| The interim report will set out four scenarios for the future of public funding: minimal change, increased transparency, a cap on donations and greater levels of public funding. | The interim report will set out four scenarios for the future of public funding: minimal change, increased transparency, a cap on donations and greater levels of public funding. |
| However, Sir Hayden is not recommending any of the options. | However, Sir Hayden is not recommending any of the options. |
| Sir Hayden said the way parties were funded could "diminish cynicism and restore confidence if it can play a part in encouraging better engagement between parties and voters over time". | Sir Hayden said the way parties were funded could "diminish cynicism and restore confidence if it can play a part in encouraging better engagement between parties and voters over time". |
| But he stressed, in a press release mistakenly released a day early, that "party politics costs". | But he stressed, in a press release mistakenly released a day early, that "party politics costs". |
| "While parties can reduce the amount they spend, they will still need to get some money from somewhere, whether from donations or public funds, or a mixture (as now) of both," he said. | "While parties can reduce the amount they spend, they will still need to get some money from somewhere, whether from donations or public funds, or a mixture (as now) of both," he said. |
| Labour has revealed it had been secretly loaned nearly £14m ahead of the last election, the Conservatives borrowed £16m from 13 wealthy backers while the Liberal Democrats say they owe £850,000 to three backers. | Labour has revealed it had been secretly loaned nearly £14m ahead of the last election, the Conservatives borrowed £16m from 13 wealthy backers while the Liberal Democrats say they owe £850,000 to three backers. |
| Transparency | Transparency |
| Conservative Party chairman Francis Maude said his party supported a cap on donations. | Conservative Party chairman Francis Maude said his party supported a cap on donations. |
| He added: "It's clear that if public funding for political parties is to increase, political parties must tackle the perception that donations can buy influence or favours." | He added: "It's clear that if public funding for political parties is to increase, political parties must tackle the perception that donations can buy influence or favours." |
| Labour chairman Hazel Blears said the party was "absolutely committed to increased transparency and accountability in political party funding". | Labour chairman Hazel Blears said the party was "absolutely committed to increased transparency and accountability in political party funding". |
| For the Lib Dems, Norman Lamb added: "Transparency is the only way we will allay the public's mistrust and suspicion about how parties are funded." |