Sam Younger

Rules on disclosure of information may be deterring honest people from entering politics, the elections watchdog has claimed.

Electoral Commission chairman Sam Younger claimed on Thursday that anti-sleaze measures may have become a factor in more people not getting involved with political parties.

"For the vast majority who are honest and open, it does seem like there is an awful lot being demanded in order to improve confidence that the few aren't going to be in a position to abuse public trust," he told the Guardian.

He claimed many of the rules governing accountability - which include criminal penalties - are a burden too far for local parties.

"It's increasingly difficult to get people to act as treasurers of local parties," he said.

"There are written into the legislation penalties, including criminal penalties, for not getting reporting requirements right."

Motives

He also warned the donation rules have made the public suspicious about the motives of people who give big cash gifts to political parties.

"People mistrust simply because they now see that there have been significant donations... Whatever the reality and however much politicians argue that large donations don't buy policy, the suspicions will be there," he said.

Younger favoured one idea where the state matched donations made by the public but rejected full state funding.

Apathy

Younger warned that to overcome voter apathy, the parties would have to tackle the public's "sense of it not really making very much difference which set of politicians are in power".

"The problem is disengagement from the formal political processes rather than apathy. Sometimes it's stronger than apathy, it's alienation. The key thing is for politicians at all levels to engage directly with the electorate," he said.