Party funding: the real market is even simpler
December 28th 2007
Sir, In his otherwise sensible recommendations for constitutional reform, Stein Ringen has fallen too easily for the argument that state funding of political parties is a necessity – although his preferred method of distributing individual vouchers backed by public money is ingenious (“Three priorities to improve British democracy”, December 21).
Yet there is no need to create a pseudo-free market via vouchers. The real market is simpler – and cheaper – to operate. If political parties find it difficult to raise money from ordinary voters, then, like any organisation that depends on voluntary contributions, they should work out why and respond accordingly. Increasing the amount of state support will simply decrease the incentive they have to reform – reform that is deeply necessary, given the low esteem in which the parties are held (and I speak as an active member of one of them).
Quite the worst argument I have heard in the present fuss over donations is the claim that increasing state money will stop political parties from breaking the rules. That is analogous to giving a convicted fraudster a handsome payment to encourage him to behave better in future. The public would not permit that; nor should it allow politicians to make improper behaviour a reason for effectively nationalising private organisations.
Martin Le Jeune,
Open Road,
London WC2N 4LP
