Who pays for the Party? An opportunity to rejuvenate grassroots politics
An alternative to centralised state funding of political parties in the shape of a ‘Civic Aid’ scheme – instead of options that would subsidise the central HQs of the main parties in Westminster – would better connect parties with real communities and local people, according to a new pamphlet from the New Local Government Network (NLGN).
Who Pays for the Party? – written by NLGN Director and former Constitutional Affairs Minister Chris Leslie – argues that parties will only be able to ditch accusations of sleaze if they adopt an alternative form of state funding that rewards local activism and caps large donations.
Who Pays for the Party? sets out a system of Civic Aid that allocates £25 to a political party when an individual donor or member gives any sum over £50. This would encourage parties to reach out into their communities for new members and encourage individual donations, rather than relying on a small amount of large individual donors.
Who pays for the Party? An opportunity to rejuvenate grassroots politics (PDF)
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