Parties given £8m of donations

22 May 2008 01:22pm

The Conservative Party received a £4.2 million cash boost from supporters between January and March this year, figures released by the Electoral Commission reveal.

The figure accounts for more than half the £8.1 million donated to all political parties in Great Britain in the first quarter of 2008.

Labour received just under £3 million in donations during the same period and the Liberal Democrats reported almost £470,000 to the commission.

The information showed Labour repaid more than £2 million of debt, but its total borrowing still stood at £17.8 million, including £33,500 on new loans taken out between January and March.

The Liberal Democrats borrowed £3,700 but repaid £16,500, leaving their total borrowing at £1.1 million.

The Tories reported no new loans but did not repay any of their outstanding £12 million debt.

The three main parties also received public funding during the period - £1.5 million to the Conservatives, £635,000 to the Liberal Democrats and £157,000 to Labour.

In total, from public money and donations, the Conservatives received £5,730,846, Labour £3,124,907 and the Liberal Democrats £1,104,118.

The Liberal Democrats also received £112,000 which should have been reported in the final quarter of 2007. The Conservatives reported £74,000 late and Labour £52,000.

The Electoral Commission said 37 registered political parties failed to file a donation report on time and could now face a fine.

© The Press Association