Although most of the Committee’s proposals were implemented in 2000, they did not apply to the 2001 general election. That contest underlined the reliance of the main parties on a few rich individuals. In the months before the election, juts three donors gave more than £6 million to Labour, while three donors contributed £11 million out of the £12.4 million given to the Conservatives in this period. Recently there have been demands for even more far reaching reforms. In 2004, the independent Electoral Commission proposed a cap of £15 million on national spending and a £10,000 limit on individual donations. However it is possible that such measures could still be bypassed by wealthy individuals giving money in the form of loans.
Party funding aroused controversy after the 2005 general election, when Tony Blair appointed Lord Drayson to a junior ministerial position. Drayson had given £1 million to Labour during 2004, and his links to the government had already been criticised because his company Powderject had previously won a lucrative contract to supply smallpox vaccine. Whether Drayson was really the best qualified candidate for the job or not, his appointment did nothing to reassure critics of the existing funding system.
There are many arguments for state funding. One important thing is that it would bring the UK into line with many other European democracies. Reliable and adequate sources of funding would allow the parties to plan their future activities on a more rational basis. For example, they could give long term job security to policy researches. The parties would no longer be distracted from their central tasks by the need to raise funds. The secrecy that surrounds party funding, and brings democracy into discredit, would be removed. The major parties would no longer be placed under any kind of obligation to sectional interests. It can help minor parties who cannot match main parties’ funds. Matching funds will encourage parties to raise funds and promote politics. Funds needed to prevent slum democracy. Increasing funds needed for research. It can also equalise parties when it comes to election time.
There are also arguments against state funding. Once accepted as a principle, state funding could be abused by incumbent governments, which might fix the rules to their own advantage. Although this kind of reform requires cross party support, it would be difficult to devise a formula that would satisfy everyone. Unless devised carefully, the terms of a reform could be avoided by the same methods that allow wealthy individuals to avoid income tax. If funding were linked to the level of support at the previous election, it would tend to reduce the chances of minor parties making a breakthrough. While guarding against corruption, reform could prevent idealistic, wealthy individuals from helping unorthodox ideas to win a hearing. The results of sate funding in other countries have been mixed. In Italy, it was abolished amid claims that it had actually increased corruption. Other disadvantages are that it will discourage independents standing for parliament, it will discourage membership and active parties and loopholes can be found.
The single transferable vote system uses multi-member constituencies only. Voting is preferential: that is, electors indicate their preferences among a potentially large number of candidates by writing ‘I’ beside the name of their first preference, ‘2’ next to the name of their second choice and so on. Voting is also ordinal: electors can vote for as many or as few candidates as they like. A candidate must achieve a quota, known as the Droop quota, in order to be elected. Any votes in excess of this quota are redistributed on the basis of second preferences.
