Comments on: Lib Dems and party funding – Nick Clegg’s big test http://www.tom-watson.co.uk/2008/01/lib-dems-and-party-funding-nick-cleggs-big-test/ The inside track since 2003 Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:10:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Peter Kenyon http://www.tom-watson.co.uk/2008/01/lib-dems-and-party-funding-nick-cleggs-big-test/comment-page-1/#comment-29477 Peter Kenyon Wed, 02 Jan 2008 12:01:44 +0000 http://www.tom-watson.co.uk/?p=1791#comment-29477 Dear Tom Nick Clegg's real test is will he adopt a principled approach to party funding as I set out here: http://petergkenyon.typepad.com/peterkenyon/2007/12/labourlib-dems.html As you know I have been chiselling away about this ever since the Electoral Commission conducted its own inquiry in 2003/04. It is probably only a matter of days, if that, before Labour bungles its latest chance to define a'new politics' with any conviction. That will be in the draft bill on election-related issues, promised in the Queen's speech post-Hayden Phillips. Any provisions for increased state-funding will signal our abject failure to come to terms with the Command Party model to our political and electoral detriment. A clear political decision to put our own financial house in order and reject any increase in state-aid could signal a genuine 'new politics'. But that would only be if built on with a sustained programme to re-engage active citizens as, in our case, Labour Party members willing to contribute time and money to get our candidates elected to implement our policies. Dear Tom

Nick Clegg’s real test is will he adopt a principled approach to party funding as I set out here:

http://petergkenyon.typepad.com/peterkenyon/2007/12/labourlib-dems.html

As you know I have been chiselling away about this ever since the Electoral Commission conducted its own inquiry in 2003/04.

It is probably only a matter of days, if that, before Labour bungles its latest chance to define a’new politics’ with any conviction. That will be in the draft bill on election-related issues, promised in the Queen’s speech post-Hayden Phillips. Any provisions for increased state-funding will signal our abject failure to come to terms with the Command Party model to our political and electoral detriment.

A clear political decision to put our own financial house in order and reject any increase in state-aid could signal a genuine ‘new politics’. But that would only be if built on with a sustained programme to re-engage active citizens as, in our case, Labour Party members willing to contribute time and money to get our candidates elected to implement our policies.

]]> By: Cash for Lib Dem peerages « Parburypolitica http://www.tom-watson.co.uk/2008/01/lib-dems-and-party-funding-nick-cleggs-big-test/comment-page-1/#comment-29474 Cash for Lib Dem peerages « Parburypolitica Wed, 02 Jan 2008 11:04:38 +0000 http://www.tom-watson.co.uk/?p=1791#comment-29474 [...] 2 January, 2008 From The Times via Tom, this is all pretty damning stuff for the Lib Dems. Not least because the guy wanted to sit as a crossbencher rather than a lib dem. [...] [...] 2 January, 2008 From The Times via Tom, this is all pretty damning stuff for the Lib Dems. Not least because the guy wanted to sit as a crossbencher rather than a lib dem. [...]

]]> By: Praguetory http://www.tom-watson.co.uk/2008/01/lib-dems-and-party-funding-nick-cleggs-big-test/comment-page-1/#comment-29464 Praguetory Wed, 02 Jan 2008 08:31:46 +0000 http://www.tom-watson.co.uk/?p=1791#comment-29464 I just clicked on the Huhne link. It's about a bloke called Abrahams who donated a truckload of money to the Labour Party via anonymous donations in contravention of electoral law. Have you only just become aware of this (snigger) and any chance of a comment? - after all you've previously campaigned to 'clean up' politics but have yet to comment on ANY of the funding scandals involving your party. I just clicked on the Huhne link. It’s about a bloke called Abrahams who donated a truckload of money to the Labour Party via anonymous donations in contravention of electoral law. Have you only just become aware of this (snigger) and any chance of a comment? – after all you’ve previously campaigned to ‘clean up’ politics but have yet to comment on ANY of the funding scandals involving your party.

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