Immediate action needed on party funding – Farron

Commenting on the Committee on Standards in Public Life's report into party funding, Liberal Democrat Party President, Tim Farron said:

"Money currently plays far too big a role in politics and the Liberal Democrats have long called for major reform in party funding.

"Any move to limit undue influence on the political process by private individuals, businesses and the Trade Unions can only be a good thing.

"There has been much talk of political reform over the years, but nothing has happened. Parties dependent on money from the unions and big business have always have worked to block reform, determined to protect the secrecy of their paymasters.

"The Kelly report goes a long way to open the murky world of party funding. While it is clear now is not the time for more public money to be spent on politicians, that shouldn't stop us taking immediate action to reform political funding, hopefully by consensus."