The Electoral Commission said that there was a lack of consensus among political parties and the public about the extent to which funding for political parties should come from the state, and it was not the right time to recommend any radical new systems.
Source: The Funding of Political Parties, Electoral Commission (020 7271 0500)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf) | Electoral Commission press release | NPN briefing (pdf) | Guardian report
Date: 2004-Dec
A report highlighted the degree to which political parties had declined at local level. Conservative Party membership more than halved between 1992 and 2001; Labour membership rose in the run up to the 1997 General Election, but had since fallen well below 1992 levels; and all the main parties had continued to lose members since the 2001 General Election.
Source: Alexandra Runswick, Life Support for Local Parties, New Politics Network (020 7278 4443)
Links: NPN press release
Date: 2004-Sep
A think-tank pamphlet (by a Labour cabinet minister) proposed a series of reforms designed to revive grassroots activism in the Labour Party, give members a more meaningful opportunity to develop policy, address the disengagement of younger people from political parties, and reconnect the party with the trade unions.
Source: Peter Hain MP, The Future Party, Catalyst, available from Central Books (020 8986 4854)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary
Date: 2004-Mar