AQA A LEVEL POLITICS GRADE A [20/25] MODEL ESSAY:
Analyse, evaluate and compare the arguments in the above article over a cap on individual donations to political parties [25 marks]
AQA A LEVEL POLITICS: SPECIMEN MODEL EXTRACT ANSWER [20/25]
ESSAY
Political parties have long used party funding for campaigning and political activities with individual
donations, further aiding their political agenda. The Extract argues that placing a cap on individual
donations would not only limit corruption but would also enhance democracy, thus advocating for state
funding as a more equal and democratic alternative. However, it is important to consider the
provenance of the extract when evaluating the debate around political funding. The extract was
written by journalist Ian Birrell who works for the Guardian, thus highlighting not only the writer’s
liberal views, but also their investigative scope as journalists, thus enabling them to pursue a much
more liberal critique of party funding and its inherent dangers to the UK’s liberal democracy.
Firstly, Birrell argues that the “traditional two party system” is collapsing as a result of disillusionment
with the traditional political system in which large donors are permitted to implicitly influence politics.
With Labour relying on trade union donations, speculations have arisen over this similarity to
corporate funding. For example, Tony Blair attempted to reduce the influence of trade unions after
they made up 80% of donations in 2001, thus raising questions about the unfair advantage created
which goes against one of the key criteria of fairness in party funding. Yet, it can be argued that this
changed under Corbyn who managed to amass £18 million in membership fees, suggesting a focus
on popular support of the electorate rather than big corporations and trade onions. However, the fears
of political interference from outsider influence was once again proved in may 2023 as the
Conservative Party accepted their second largest one off donation from Egyptian born billionaire
Mohammad Mansour of £5 million, after his recruitment to senior treasurer of the Conservative party
in December 2023, thus demonstrating the imminent corruption and loopholes in the political party
funding system, which can only be reformed when it “collapses” and a cap on individual donations is
established.
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