Parties report record donations

Political parties raised a record 拢26.3m in donations in the run-up to May's general election.

The Conservatives attracted the most during the three months from March to June, taking in 拢12.3m, the Electoral Commission reports.

This was followed by Labour on 拢10.9m and the Liberal Democrats, who received 拢2m in donations.

The overall figure beats the 拢20.6m given in the first quarter of 2005, just prior to the previous election.

From 1 March to 30 June this year, the Scottish National Party received 拢277,000, while the UK Independence Party was given 拢256,000.

The Green Party got 拢54,000 and Plaid Cymru 拢35,000.

Higher thresholds

There were no donations registered for British National Party.

Under Electoral Commission rules, only gifts totalling 拢7,500 or more for a central party, or 拢1,500 for a constituency association, have to be declared.

The thresholds increased earlier this year from 拢5,000 and 拢1,000 respectively.

In its report, the commission reveals that, during the second quarter of this year, the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats reported receiving a total of four donations amounting to 拢25,806 from impermissible sources.

These were returned within the 30 days allowed.

The Conservatives also reported receiving two impermissible donations, coming to 拢1,275, which they did not give back within the time limit.

The commission said it was "currently discussing the matter with the party".

Union backing

Meanwhile, Labour reported receiving 拢1,000 from an unidentifiable source, which it returned within 30 days.

Labour's biggest donors were the the unions Unite, with 拢1.5m, and Unison, which gave 拢1.1m.

For the Conservatives, the biggest donor was JCB Research, which gave the central party 拢750,000 and smaller amounts to several constituency associations.

The Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust gave the most to the Lib Dems - 拢350,000.

Labour had the highest borrowing at the end of June, of 拢16.6m, followed by the Conservatives on 拢13.1m and the Lib Dems on 拢1.6m.

The commission's chief executive, Peter Wardle, said: "Since 2001, we have made public details of almost 30,000 donations to political parties, with a total value of just over 拢433m.

"Voters have come to expect a high level of transparency about the way political parties are funded, and never more so than for the period covering a general election in the UK.

"Voters will want to see who funded political parties during the election campaign, and contributed towards this record-breaking quarter."