"Every time people are reminded of eye-watering sums swashing about in our politics, they rightly think it stinks. And it does, even when all the rules are followed. There's no way of knowing what, if any, influence donations have, but the public understandably assumes that some donors expect something in return. Even if they asked for nothing in return, why should the preferences of the wealthy swing our elections?"
"The dispute over Labour's alleged failure to declare sizeable support from the campaign group Labour Together offers another opportunity for Starmer to call time on big money in politics. The Tories have called for the electoral commission to conduct a new investigation into this week's allegations including that Labour failed to declare staffing costs it received from Labour Together that covered McSweeney's salary. In 2021, the watchdog fined Labour Together 14,250 for failing to properly declare sizeable donations,"
Large donations, freebies and undisclosed support undermine public trust in politics and create perceptions of corruption. Labour faced revelations of gifts to cabinet members and a dispute over undeclared staffing support linked to the campaign group Labour Together. The watchdog previously fined Labour Together for misdeclared donations. The unclear flow of funding and legal loopholes allow dark money and influence to persist. Public suspicion grows because wealthy donors may sway policy or expect returns, even when rules are followed. Political leaders have opportunities to reform donation rules and limit mega-donations to restore democratic integrity and confidence.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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