A report recommended a system of tax relief plus to revitalise local party activity, combined with a 5,000 donation cap. Any new state funding would be voluntary, but only available in return for a cap on donations. However, all parties would have to keep to the rules of transparency and new, lower, spending limits.
Source: Matt Cain and Matthew Taylor, Keeping it Clean - The way forward for state funding of political parties, Institute for Public Policy Research, available from Central Books (0845 458 9911)
Links: Press release
Date: 2002-Oct
A report examined the case for further regulation of party funding. It emphasised the need to maintain the link between the Labour Party and trade unions; for further self-regulation by the Labour Party to eliminate large private donations; and for greater state support for (but not state funding of) political parties.
Source: Keith Ewing, Trade Unions, the Labour Party, and Political Funding - The next step: reform with restraint, Catalyst, available from Central Books (020 8986 4854)
Links: Summary
Date: 2002-Oct
A discussion paper examined the arguments for state funding of political parties.
Source: Paying for Politics: The Principles of Funding Political Parties, Hansard Society (020 7955 7459)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2002-Jul