How other countries fund politics

Gordon Brown says he wants to shake up party funding following the row over donations to the Labour Party. But just how are political parties financed in other countries?

Some countries have attempted to address public unease about large political donations by imposing statutory limits on corporate, trade union or individual donations.

UNITED STATES

In the US there are controls over funding of federal election campaigns.

Individuals cannot donate more than $1,000 (£484) to a candidate per election campaign. A person cannot donate more than $25,000 (£12,103) for election campaigns in a year.

Candidates' committees, political parties' committees and political actions committees (PACs) are obliged to submit periodical reports about received and spent cash.

According to the International Foundation for Election Systems, candidates have to list all PACs and party committees that have financially supported them and also to name all individuals who gave them more than $200 in a year (about £97).

AUSTRALIA

All parties and candidates in Australia have to submit a return to the Australian Electoral Commission disclosing donations received.

The names and addresses of individuals or organisations who donate more than £77 to a candidate, or £385 or more to a Senate group, have to be declared, along with the date and value of each donation made, the UK Electoral Commission says.

A disclosure return must be lodged if a donation of £577 or more is made to a registered political party.

FRANCE

The French have banned contributions from businesses since 1995.

Donations by individuals are capped at 7,500 euros (£5,329), or 4,600 euros (£3,268) during election campaigns, which are tax deductible.

In 2002 state funding amounted to approximately 80m euros (£56.8m).

GERMANY

All donations above £6,700 need to be disclosed. A citizen of the European Union, or a business whose shares are more than 50% owned by Germans, can make a donation of £336, the UK Electoral Commission says.

Since 1994, donations of up to £2,000 per person, per year, receive tax relief.

In 2003 state funding of parties amounted to approximately 300m euros (£213m).

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND

Donations to parties are capped at a maximum of 6,348 euros - approximately £4,500 - from any one donor in any given year. Parties must give details of any donation which exceeds 5,078.95 euros (about £3,600).