tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post114277367162881457..comments2024-03-04T17:54:32.559+00:00Comments on Iain Dale's Diary: Party Funding Reform Is Now a CertaintyIain Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03270146219458384372noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1142809927594640822006-03-19T23:12:00.000+00:002006-03-19T23:12:00.000+00:00I don't belive in state funding of parties per se....I don't belive in state funding of parties per se. However I would live with allowing "gift aid" on dinations to political parties. In effect a party could reclaim 28% tax on donations as a charity could. This would retain a clear link between activism and individual support and the ammount given by the state.<BR/><BR/>In return a maximum cap on individual donations.<BR/><BR/>Howver in reality you could solve this problem by lowering the national limit on general election campaigns. So much national expenditure is "arms race" stuff. we are doing it because veryone else is. the prime example being the seriously expensive billboard advertising.David Mortonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01479365957612973421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1142788012529835232006-03-19T17:06:00.000+00:002006-03-19T17:06:00.000+00:00The Lib Dems have published the names of the three...The Lib Dems have published the names of the three people who gave them loans - details were on Friday's Newsnight.<BR/><BR/>As was the most exciting close up camera shot of a teabag I think I'll ever see. Very bizarre camera work to go with their report on parties and loans.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1142784964768160562006-03-19T16:16:00.000+00:002006-03-19T16:16:00.000+00:00what tees me off is that if it goes to state fundi...what tees me off is that if it goes to state funding then the taxpayer will be bailing the politicians out.Why should they?The reality is that new funding scandals will come along except they'll then be part funded by Jo public.<BR/>What gets me about these loans is that TB came in on a tide of promises to be whiter than white.<BR/>It also gets me how slow we've been to get stuck into him-but with DC in the seat you wonder whether he's too clever by half.<BR/>We need more punch and judy and less consensus.Rigger Morticehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11511441744590678443noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1142782966111586072006-03-19T15:42:00.000+00:002006-03-19T15:42:00.000+00:00..."But neither of those Parties stand accused of ......"But neither of those Parties stand accused of hiding the existence of the loans from senior party officials"<BR/><BR/>Dromey isn't a 'senior party figure' he is a 'lay treasurer' who signs off the annual accounts. In any event, hiding the loans from a 'senior party figure' isn't any offence at all. Hiding loans from thev bloody electorate should be the offence, and they're all guilty of that.<BR/><BR/>'Tomorrow the Conservatives will outline plans to 'clean up' the system'. The words horse, bolted and stable spring to mind.Bob Piperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13792439016502695274noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1142782779866110022006-03-19T15:39:00.000+00:002006-03-19T15:39:00.000+00:00Norman Fowler also backs state funding.Norman Fowler also backs state funding.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1142778844406960992006-03-19T14:34:00.000+00:002006-03-19T14:34:00.000+00:00Channel 4 News, Thursday night. Party President Si...Channel 4 News, Thursday night. Party President Simon Hughes said we would happily reveal the names of people who had loaned money to the Lib Dems. He didn't have the names with him, but he would happily do do.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1142778767154132692006-03-19T14:32:00.000+00:002006-03-19T14:32:00.000+00:00Iain, if I remember rightly, Jonathan Marland has ...Iain, if I remember rightly, Jonathan Marland has already said that he is no longer seeking donations of more than £50-100,000 to try and reduce the party's reliance on big donors.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com