Plans to introduce state funding for political parties have been hit by new research showing public hostility to the move.

Research by pollsters MORI for the Electoral Commission found that just seven per cent of the electorate think that taxpayers should foot the total bill for party financing.

Earlier this week Commons leader Peter Hain had suggested that state aid could be a pledge in Labour's next general election manifesto.

"Everyone agrees that it is not desirable to have parties relying on big donations from multinational companies, wealthy individuals or even trade unions," Hain told the Independent newspaper.

Three quarters of those polled think parties should be financed by their own fund-raising and 56 per cent do not think that parties would necessarily become more honest if they were funded through taxes.

But while the vast majority of voters are sceptical about taxpayers' cash being used to support political parties, the research also revealed significant unease with the current funding system.

Seventy per cent of respondents regarded the voluntary system as unfair because of the risk that wealthy donors may buy influence.

The findings come despite government legislation to compel parties to release the names of significant donors, along with details on the size and timing of their donations.

While quarterly reports on donations are now published by the Electoral Commission, 72 per cent admitted knowing little or nothing at all about political donations.

One possible reform the public would support, however, is a cap on the size of individual donations.

The survey found that 70 per cent would support restrictions that would see an end to million pound cash gifts.

Imposing restrictions on donations without the introduction of some form of state funding are unlikely to go down well with parties which could lose key sources of income.

But many voters appeared to have their own views on how the parties should cope.

One third of those polled felt that allowing political parties to go bankrupt would not harm the democratic process.

The commission is continuing to invite the public to respond to a consultation paper on the subject of party funding, ahead of the closing date on September 12.

"The contradictory public attitudes revealed by this research highlight the importance of generating discussion on the funding of political parties," noted Roger Creedon, the commission's chief executive.

The watchdog's conclusions will be submitted to the government next summer.