The funding of UK political parties

• Basic annual salary April 2017 for MPs: £76,000 from general taxation
• MPs claim expenses to cover the cost of running an office, living in Westminster and their constituency, and travel

Parties must meet most of their election costs from the voluntary subscriptions of their membership and from fundraising events in MPs' constituencies

• There is, however, a stae provision to support the activities of the opposition in parliament called Short money

Powerful interests could offer financial support in return for political influence

• Lib Dems criticise opponents as being bankrolled by the welathy (least well-funded)
• Parties accused of offering political honours (eg places in the House of Lords) to most generous benefactors

2000 Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act

• Independent…