Why transparency matters

10.57.20am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 4th Oct 2006

Money

Over the last few days I have posted about the Midlands Industrial Council (MIC), Coleshill Manor, the Conservative Constituency Campaigning Services and Wolverhampton Conservatives. A number of people have asked me if it all matters and why, well it does matter and it matters because of the lack of transparency in party political funding.

Transparency matters because if a political party, any of them, or a candidate or their campaign is being funding by one individual or a collection of individuals I think the public has a right to know who these people are and why. Prior to the General Election I received a number of small donations towards my campaign, the largest being £50 I think - these were mainly from friends and family who wanted to support me - this kind of funding is legitimate and above board in my mind, any large donations would have been checked and registered with the Electoral Commission. Wolverhampton South West Conservatives received at least £15,000 from the Midlands Industrial Council who no-one knows much about, and certainly do not know if they have an agenda.

All political parties receive donations of varying size, most of these donations are above board. It would appear that the Labour Party may have led some people to think making large donations would result in being given a peerage - I won't comment more on those specifics as the police are investigating. Now the police are also investigating the Conservative Party too, again I won't comment. The original legislation being used was brought in as a result of the Liberal Lloyd George selling peerages, I hope and believe that the Liberal Democrats are not selling Peerages anymore - but lets not forget we invented the game!

I have no doubt some people who donate to political parties do so for very honourable reasons, either they support the party, its policies or the individual candidate. It is far easier to know this if you know who the donors are which is why the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act (PPERA) was passed to provide that transparency. I train Liberal Democrats in complying with PPERA and always say something along the lines of "As with any legislation they will be ways around PPERA, but you shouldn't try as firstly its wrong, secondly you should have nothing to hide and thirdly if I find out I will ensure you are thrown out of the Party."

The Midlands Industrial Council, if as stated is an Unincorporated Association, can make donations to the Conservative Party (including whatever goes on at Coleshill) and not have to declare the identities of the individuals involved - and this has been what it has done to the tune of at least £800,000. If however it is part of the Conservative Party then it would not be allowed to do this without breaking the PPERA legislation, and David Cameron on Sunday's Andrew Marr show said it was. The Electoral Commission has been asked to look into the Midlands Industrial Council to see if they are breaking the law. Even if it is not breaking the letter of the law I would suggest it is breaking the spirit of the law.

But why do these people want to stay in the shadows? If I was proud of my support for a political party, and I am, I would want people to know, and I tell them! We know very little about the Midlands Industrial Council apart from it appears to channel money from wealthy individuals to the Conservative Party. One thing we know is Robert Edmiston is involved, Robert Edmiston is a fairly right-wing individual who has also bought a school (sorry sponsored one of these academy schools) in Solihull - Grace Academy - and it teaches creationism and has applied to have another in Coventry.

Two questions that spring to my mind are: Is Edmiston giving money to the Conservatives in an attempt to push his religious views? Do other members of the Midlands Industrial Council have their own agendas and what are they? If the answer is yes, that is fine, but should the electorate know? I think so which is why political funding needs to be transparent.