New era begins on political funding
Article Abstract:
UK political parties should be obliged to make a full disclosure of all their sources of funding, according to Lord Neill's Committee on Standards in Public Life. The committee has recommended that all national donations over 5,000 pounds sterling be placed on a public register, along with local payments over 1,000 pounds sterling. Parties will disclose donations on a quarterly basis between elections, but will have to make a disclosure within a week of receiving a donation during election campaigns. Blind trusts should be abolished and replaced with 'open trusts' whose donors will be disclosed.
Publication Name: The Independent
Subject: Retail industry
ISSN: 0951-9467
Year: 1998
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All politicians know the sound of lost credibility. Laughter
Article Abstract:
It is widely assumed in the UK that politicians are corrupt, and many people are prepared to believe the worst about any politician. For this reason, proposals from the Neill Committee for wide-reaching changes to the funding of political parties are to be welcomed. It is vital that business leaders are no longer permitted to influence government policy through large donations to party funds. Most significantly, the committee's proposals include a ceiling of the amount political parties can spend at general elections.
Publication Name: The Independent
Subject: Retail industry
ISSN: 0951-9467
Year: 1998
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John Smith made mistakes, but at least he was trusted
Article Abstract:
Late UK Labour party leader John Smith gained widespread trust, and was thus able to unite the party. His great ability was that, although he came from the traditionally right wing of the party, he never became involved with right-wing factions. Indeed, many on the hard right of the party had reservations about his loyalties. His only serious mistakes were his refusal to run against Neil Kinnock for the party leadership in 1988 and his Shadow Budget at the beginning of the 1992 general election.
Publication Name: The Independent
Subject: Retail industry
ISSN: 0951-9467
Year: 1999
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