| Save the Labour Party |
| 10 April 2006 Dear Alexander Horne My attention has just been drawn to your request for submissions on Party funding for the Inquiry being undertaken by the Constitutional Affairs Committee. STLP represents individuals and Constituency Labour Parties committed to restoring the Labour Party as a democratically run membership organisation. Our secretary, Dr Gaye Johnston, was featured in the Guardian newspaper G2 section on Friday 7 April. Elaine Smith MSP and myself, who are members of STLP, are also members of the Labour Commission on Accountability, Party and Parliamentary Democracy, which is also examining these issues. STLP has a clear position on party funding arising from submissions made by some of our members to the Electoral Commission inquiry in 2003, and believes strongly that our democracy would be better served if professional politicians were able to recognise that membership of political parties is a leading indicator of success. http://www.savethelabourparty.org/partyfunding.html http://www.savethelabourparty.org/news19.html Our national committee met on Saturday 8 April and agreed to make a submission to your inquiry. We intend to demonstrate among other things that the 21st century Labour Party could be funded from membership fees, small donations and affiliation fees. We consider this financial modelling is crucial to your committee's deliberations. There is, however, a need across the political spectrum in our society to recognise that political party membership needs to be encouraged. This will take strong, ethical leadership, time and possibly state-administered financial incentives. STLP is sympathetic to the support extended by the Electoral Commission to the state (ie taxpayers) supporting state funding for political party donations (including membership dues) up to a total of £200 per annum per individual to promote local party development. Similarly, STLP supports the sentiment of the recommendation of the PoWEr Inquiry to encourage local party development through a ballot paper check box. Although we are opposed to the precise mechanism chosen, inview of the civil liberties issues posed, which would enable voting preferences to be linked explicitly to named individuals in a much more transparent way than the current administration of voting. A detailed submission is in preparation, I would be grateful if you could advise me whether delivery after 10 April would be acceptable. With best wishes Peter Kenyon Chair - Save the Labour Party http://www.savethelabourparty.org 020 7374 6941 07802 216 591 Save the Labour Party as a progressive voluntary association, in which members have rights, help shape policy and campaign to win elections |