Party Funding

Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Defence – in the House of Commons at 3:39 pm on 26 March 2012.

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Photo of Francis Maude Francis Maude The Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office 3:39, 26 March 2012

I very much agree with my hon. Friend. It was a pity that the opportunity was not taken in the Hayden Phillips discussions to go ahead with the reforms that were so close to agreement, because one of the proposals was to have more state funding to match smaller donations. That would have achieved exactly what my hon. Friend is talking about, which is increasing the spread of those who support political parties. We sometimes lose sight of the fact that it is good for people to support political parties. Democracy depends on it.