Labour and the question of money in politics

At our next Constituency meeting at 8.00pm on Wednesday, 28 November we will be debating the issues of Introducing a Register of lobbyists and  Party Funding.

Venue: Christ Church, Redford Way, Uxbridge, GreaterLondon UB8 1SZ just a few minutes walk from Uxbridge Underground Station.

 Our guest speaker this month is Labour Party Member and Unlock Democracy's Deputy Director Alex Runswick.

LOBBY REGISTER

Lobby companies, funded by powerful commercial  interests, are accused of distorting our democracy by having disproportionate access and influence on our legislators.  

To neutralise Lobbyists influence through  transparency the Government has committed to introducing a statutory register of lobbyists. Following a public consultation held earlier this year the Government is now reviewing their proposals prior to publishing a White Paper and draft Bill during this session of Parliament.

Why and how will a lobby register work?

 

Should Trade Unions and other campaigning voluntary organisations be considered to be  the same as the commercial lobby organisations?

 

These are questions for all democratic Party Members to consider.

 PARTY FUNDING

Last year a  report on Party Funding  issued by the Committee on Standards in Public Life made  three headline proposals:

·         an annual donation cap of £10,000  from any individual or organisation including trade unions;

·         a change whereby trade union members would have to actively opt in to funding the Labour party;

·         public funding of  £3 per vote each Parliament

While the donations cap would seriously undermine the Tory Party’s funding, Labour’s initial response was opposition to the trade union member’s opt in for fear of a collapse in their own funding. All parties stepped away from the third proposal for public funding from fear of backlash from a jaundiced electorate, recently made worse by the MPs expenses scandal.

The argument in defence of trade union donations to Labour is they are made up of millions of small donations where each individual has consented for their money to be given to the party, but some commentators say that this system is often not as transparent as it ought to be.

As cross party talks on Party funding commenced In April this year, Ed Miliband made a strong defence of working people funding Labour via the annual £3 political levy and  surprised many with a  proposal for donations to be capped at £5,000, which will include discretionary contributions from the unions.  

 

COME AND SHARE YOUR VIEWS

 

This will be an ideal opportunity for members to debate these two current issues which are affecting the type of democracy in which we live.

Our meetings are open to all party members and those eligible to become party members and we welcome new supporters and interested individuals.

 

For more information email the Branch Secretary, sruislipandmanorlp@blueyonder.co.uk