LIMITATION OF SPENDING ON GENERAL ELECTIONS

Early day motion 445, tabled 12 November 1997 by Audrey Wise (Labour). Signed by 54 members.

That this House notes that the longstanding restriction of the amounts which can be spent at constituency level by political parties when contesting Parliamentary elections has prevented parties from competing financially instead of politically and has done much to keep British politics clean; but also notes that the lack of similar restriction of election spending at national level is undermining this, leading to the spending of vast sums and an over-concentration on getting donations which in turn can cast doubt on the process of government decision-making; and therefore calls on the Government to bring forward proposals for the legal limitation of spending on Parliamentary elections at National level.

Signatures by party: Labour 37, Liberal Democrat 13, Labour/Co-operative 2, Scottish National Party 2.