Power and money
| 13:58 UK time, Wednesday, 30 July 2008
The latest financial statements of the big four Assembly parties are now out. Sinn Fein is in the money - thanks in part to donations from elected representatives and friends in the United States.
The other Executive parties are faring less well, spending more than they took in for the financial year ending December 2007.
Some of the finer points of the accounts make interesting reading.
Despite taking in more than £1 million (minus the £500 fine for filing the accounts late) SF remains irked that the party is "still being deprived of the Westminster Policy Development Grants." The party's charitable donations rose from £500 to £1,000.
As for the SDLP, it lists under its running costs (note 5) that it had a £27,000 legal expense to pay. Might that be related to the High Court settlement last November involving an apology to former Assistant Chief Constable Alan McQuillan following an election advertisement? The SDLP (which has a deficit of around £130,000) has a bank overdraft of £113,844.
Notably, while the Ulster Unionist Assembly party is struggling along with a deficit of more than £6,000, accounts for the East Belfast UUP Victoria Association indicate its sitting on reserves exceeding £100,000.
The DUP Assembly Party has a deficit of around £27,000. It lists banks loans and overdrafts (falling due within one year) of £24,271.
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