TORIES WALKED AWAY FROM FUNDING TALKS - TYLER

Liberal Democrat Constitutional Affairs spokesman, Lord (Paul) Tyler has called on the Conservative Party to come back to the negotiating table on party funding. 

Speaking in the House of Lords, he told Peers that the government had been urged to reform the system as long ago as January 2007, by the Committee on Standards in Public Life.  They had recommended that it was essential "to ensure the integrity and public confidence in the system of political party funding and campaign expenditure" long before recent scandals. "The latest delay", Lord Tyler continued, "has undoubtedly been due to the Conservatives pulling the plug on the Hayden Phillips inquiry".

In response, the Minister, Lord Hunt of Kings Heath, claimed the Hayden Phillips inquiry showed the Government was "serious in intent", but regretted that the Conservatives did not seem to be as serious.

Commenting after the exchange, Lord Tyler said:

"Ministers still seem to be committed to finding a proper settlement on funding arrangements for political parties.

"We need a more transparent, accountable system, which will see parties move away from reliance on large donations, in favour of small, local donations from a broader range of supporters.

"If we are to avoid yet more dodgy dealing - and further resulting collapse of public confidence - the Conservative Party must now come back to the table."