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PRESS RELEASE
MAJORITY BACK STATE FUNDING FOR POLITICAL PARTIES
The Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust Ltd State of the Nation survey 2004
The majority of people back state funding for political parties to end the risk of donors buying political influence. Nearly two thirds (62%) of the public believe the time has come for public funding to reduce the parties’ dependence on large donations from wealthy individuals, businesses and trade unions – and a larger majority (74%) want a cap on donations.
A new survey, published today by the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust*, also finds however that while people appreciate the roles parties play in British democracy, the three main parties are disliked much more than they are liked.
The Conservatives are the most unpopular.
Other findings:-

The public has little faith in the way Britain is governed. Nearly two thirds agree that the present system of government needs ‘quite a lot’ or a ‘great deal’ of improvement, and over half believe Britain is becoming ‘less democratic’.

Almost every person interviewed (99%) wanted one or more democratic reforms, such as a substantially elected House of Lords, proportional representation for elections to Westminster or limits on how much people can donate to political parties.

There is overwhelming support (80%) for the adoption of a written constitution that would provide clear legal rules within which government ministers and civil servants must operate.

An even higher proportion (83%) believe the Prime Minister should be bound by law to seek approval from Parliament before committing
Britain to war.
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
A substantially elected House of Lords remains the clear preference of the British people, with 67% backing either a wholly elected or majority elected upper chamber. Almost as many want proportional representation for elections to Westminster (63%) and local councils
(62%).
“This poll shows a significant breakthrough in attitudes towards state funding for political parties” said Professor Helen Margetts, Director of the UCL School of Public Policy, who advised the Trust on the poll . “People fear that the larger parties allow the rich to buy influence through political donations and are turning away from them. But they appreciate the role of parties in the
British political system and they like the new choices they get, now that smaller parties have more of a chance in the new devolved assemblies and under different electoral systems
.”
The poll also provides information on public attitudes to popular protest, civil liberties and many other issues. A summary of the main findings of the 2004 poll is available at www.jrrt.org.uk
.
*Please note: The Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust should be referred to in full
(not as ‘The Rowntree Trust’) to distinguish it from other, separate, Rowntree organisations.
Contacts:
For the Reform Trust:
Helen Margetts (020 7679 4980)
Stuart Weir (01934 863 668)
For ICM:
Nick Sparrow (020 7436 3114)
Mark Ross (07947 245 868)
Notes for Editors
1. The Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust Ltd is the leading source of independent, non-charitable, money in the UK for funding political groups, campaigning organisations and individuals who have reform as their objective.
2. ICM conducted 2,373 on-street interviews during the recent local and
European election campaign, between 26 May 2004 and 4 June 2004.
3. The Trust has been measuring public opinion on issues of democracy, human rights and constitutional reform through the State of the Nation polls since 1991. However, State of the Nation 2004 is only the second in this series of polls since Tony Blair took office (the last was in 2000).
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