Labour Party in Islington breaches its own Government's rules

5.51.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 19th Jun 2006

More embarrassment for Islington Labour

Lib Dems call for openness on party accounts as Labour Party in Islington breaches its own Government's rules

Islington's Labour parties have failed to meet a legal requirement to report on their income and spending despite the recent rows over political funding.

Islington North and Islington South & Finsbury Labour parties are among those which may have broken the law by failing to publish their accounts for the year of the General Election - despite the requirements of the Political Parties, Elections & Referendums Act (PPERA) 2000.

Ironically it was the Labour Government who introduced the Act - designed to tackle the sleaze around Tory Party finances. Now Labour too are caught up in sleaze allegations, with the loans for peerages scandal.

Islington Liberal Democrat Chair, Dr Iarla Kilbane-Dawe, says, "Liberal Democrats have long campaigned for greater openness on party funding. Producing full accounts for public scrutiny is now a legal requirement for active political parties. It may be a hassle for volunteer committees, but we're happy to comply.

"The question for Labour in Islington is: are they breaking the law because they can't be bothered - or do they have something to hide?"

Notes to Editors

1. Under the Act, parties whose total income or gross expenditure is £250,000 or less are required to submit a statement of accounts within three months of their year end. Those parties that exceed this limit are required to submit their statement of accounts within six months of their year end.

2. As the Electoral Commission website www.electoralcommission.org.uk) shows, Islington Liberal Democrats have published their accounts for the years ending 31 December 2004 and 31 December 2005, as have Islington South & Finsbury Conservatives. Neither Islington North nor Islington South & Finsbury Labour Party have their accounts published.

ENDS