Parties told to end secrecy over donors
TWO of Northern Ireland's leading political parties have changed their position on unique rules which allow their funders to remain anonymous.
Unlike the rest of the UK, where major donors to parties such as Labour or the Conservatives are known, Northern Ireland's parties do not have to reveal who funds them.
Those rules are due to be reviewed next year and yesterday MLAs were told by the Electoral Commission that its opinion polling has found that only nine per cent of the public support the current arrangements.
The main argument for naming donors is that it helps to prevent wealthy individuals buying political favours, while those supporting secrecy point to the threat which could still be faced by those in Northern Ireland if their political views were known.
Documents released to the News Letter under the Freedom of Information Act show that the SDLP has reversed its opposition to full disclosure, while the UUP is now calling for continued secrecy, having originally supported complete openness.
In a letter to NIO minister David Hanson in 2005, responding to a consultation on the issue, UUP leader Sir Reg Empey acknowledged that in the past there had been a "very real threat of intimidation or attack" but added that he believed there now existed enough confidence to support full disclosure.
However, citing the terrorist threat, the UUP told the News Letter that it now "believes that a move to full transparency is unfortunately not possible at this time".
In 2005, the SDLP strongly opposed revealing its donors, pointing to a series of incidents where it claimed those contributing to the party had been targeted by paramilitaries: "Potential donors to the SDLP, north and south, continue to seek an assurance that their names and addresses will not be revealed due to fears for their personal safety."
However, the party has now said that it will not oppose donors being revealed from next year.
The DUP's 2005 letter to Mr Hanson outlined that it would be happy to supply the Electoral Commission in London with details of donors "on a confidential basis" but raised concerns about releasing the names of its donors.
Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams proposed that all corporate donations be banned and individual donations of 50 or more be revealed; Alliance general secretary Stephen Farry asked for the secrecy clause to be "progressively removed" and said that "the point regarding the threat of intimidation of political donors in Northern Ireland is greatly overplayed".
An NIO spokeswoman said that Secretary of State Shaun Woodward will hold a public consultation on the issue and decide whether the current arrangements should end next October or be extended.
At Stormont yesterday, Jenny Watson, chair of the UK Electoral Commission, told MLAs that action needs to be taken to boost public confidence in the political system, with two-thirds of people demanding information on parties' financial backers.
The independent watchdog on elections and party funding said that politicians need to accept greater financial transparency to win back public support in the wake of the Westminster expenses scandal.
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Tuesday 14 February 2012
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