Another reason why there wont be a general election this year

The Electoral Commission report on party funding in 2008 is out today and I suspect it wont make happy reading for Labour supporters. Let's look at the figures;

Donations in the last quarter of 2008

• Conservatives £ 5,138,850
• Labour party £ 2,621,952
• Liberal Democrats £ 960,898

Loans (ie debts outstanding)

• Conservatives £ 6,897,552
• Labour Party £ 11,553,280
• Liberal Democrats £ 523,171

In other words Labour has half the financial support and twice the debts of the main opposition party.

To put these numbers in the context of that valiant little fighter, the Green Party, we have no "loans" and received £ 43,000 in donations (plus ten thousand more if you include the Scottish Green Party, to compare like with like). That's a twentieth of the funds of the Lib Dems.

Now let's look at the ten largest political donors for 2008 (by party);

Labour

• Unite - AMICUS section £2,591,741
• Lord David Sainsbury £2,511,808
• UNISON £1,780,122
• GMB £1,368,873
• Unite - TGWU section £1,364,175
• Union of Shop Distributive and Allied Workers £1,111,049
• Joanne Rowling £1,000,000

Tories

• Bearwood Corporate Services £1,600,893
• National Conservative Draws Society £836,801
• David Whelan £750,000

Yes, that's right folks, not only are Labour are getting less money overall but a far smaller proportion of it is coming from small donations. What colour is the people's flag again? If it wasn't for Harry Potter, Sainsbury's and the unions they'd be sunk.

Other news of interest: what on Earth are the English Democrats doing with a £ 101,447 debt hanging over them? Gambling on electoral successes that never came? A new pool for their leader? This only compares to the £ 100,000 debt for the Progressive Party - and I've no idea who they are! Money well spent I hope.

ps I have removed a silly inaccuracy that was helpfully pointed out in the comments.