State funding would be 'bonkers' says MP
Proposals to introduce state funding for political parties have beencriticised as 'bonkers' and a 'smokescreen' to break the Labour Party'slink with the trade union movement. Labour MP Tom Watson has joined achorus of criticism towards the IPPR's report published this morning.
Mr Watson, a member of the Home Affairs Select Committee, also warned thatstate funding would be unpopular with the electorate. "It's easy for theIPPR to put forward these proposals- they don't have to justify them totheir constituents," the West Bromwich East MP said.
"Asking people to pay for MPs, parliamentary researchers and constituencycaseworkers is one thing, but subsidising more Millbank spin-doctors andConservative photo opportunities would be too much for most taxpayers tostomach. How could we justify diverting resources from our schools,hospitals and transport system to bankroll multi-million pound electioncampaigns?"
"At the general election Labour promised to prioritise investment andreform of public services. It would be bonkers to turn round and say'political parties first, schools and hospitals second'. If we are to havestate funding it must be a manifesto commitment at the next election."
Mr Watson said that a £5,000 cap would "break" relationship between Labourand the unions.
"My real fear is that some of the people behind these proposals are usingit as a smokescreen to break the Labour Party-trade union link. If theyare, let's have that debate out in the open," he said.
Tom is supporting proposals by Bassetlaw MP John Mann for a ban onpolitical billboard advertising. "We should cut back the wasteful spendingon billboards and party political broadcasts, which don't sway any votesduring a campaign, and reduce the national limit on election expenditure,"he said.
"For political parties, billboards are a zero sum game. Labour buy ahundred, the Tories buy two hundred. The Conservatives go negative, Labourgo negative. If billboards had been banned at the 2001 general electionthe Labour Party would hardly owe a penny today."
