Short Money Debate

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Department: HM Treasury

Short Money

Douglas Carswell Excerpts
Tuesday 23rd February 2016

(8 years, 8 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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John Penrose Portrait John Penrose
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For a long time, the funding received by Sinn Féin has been treated as a separate but parallel consideration, subject to a separate resolution of this House. I would expect that to continue and for it to receive separate, special consideration as a result.

Douglas Carswell Portrait Mr Douglas Carswell (Clacton) (UKIP)
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I welcome the Government’s announcement that they will be cutting Short money, and I urge Ministers to stick to their guns and not to retreat. The sight of special pleading from political parties wanting to get their hands on taxpayers’ cash is disgraceful. I urge Ministers not only to slash Short money but to insist that all political parties publish fully audited accounts of what they spend it on, as my party will at the end of this year, so that we can see the hotel bills and precisely what they spend that taxpayers’ money on.

John Penrose Portrait John Penrose
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I strongly agree with the hon. Gentleman. It is a timeworn phrase but it bears repetition: sunlight is the best disinfectant.