Simon Kuper

It is now true. So these parties, Labour and the Tories, used to be mass member organisations. Paul McCartney's first gig when he was about 15 is at, he says, a place called the Conservative Club in some suburb of Liverpool, because there were millions and millions of members of Conservative clubs all over the UK.

It is now true. So these parties, Labour and the Tories, used to be mass member organisations. Paul McCartney's first gig when he was about 15 is at, he says, a place called the Conservative Club in some suburb of Liverpool, because there were millions and millions of members of Conservative clubs all over the UK.

And they'd go there on a Saturday night to listen to music, to play billiards, to have cheese parties. And They, you know, they paid membership fees and that funded the party. And Labour had a version of that, which was more through trade union members giving money to Labour. And as that wanes, you know, obviously all those conservative clubs are now shuttered. They don't exist anymore.

And they'd go there on a Saturday night to listen to music, to play billiards, to have cheese parties. And They, you know, they paid membership fees and that funded the party. And Labour had a version of that, which was more through trade union members giving money to Labour. And as that wanes, you know, obviously all those conservative clubs are now shuttered. They don't exist anymore.

You then start to need donations. And so that from the 80s, 90s becomes the big story. Now you could do it differently. So in other countries, like in France, where I live, there are significant government money going to fund parties. And in the UK, there's virtually none. The opposition gets a bit of short money, it's called.

You then start to need donations. And so that from the 80s, 90s becomes the big story. Now you could do it differently. So in other countries, like in France, where I live, there are significant government money going to fund parties. And in the UK, there's virtually none. The opposition gets a bit of short money, it's called.

I think other parties also get it, but mostly it's what keeps the opposition alive. But it's very small. And obviously, if you said to British people, look, I reckon if we had 130 million quid, a year, so that's £2 per brick more or less, we could get rid of political donations. Then the parties could have organisations, they could have think tanks like German parties do.

I think other parties also get it, but mostly it's what keeps the opposition alive. But it's very small. And obviously, if you said to British people, look, I reckon if we had 130 million quid, a year, so that's £2 per brick more or less, we could get rid of political donations. Then the parties could have organisations, they could have think tanks like German parties do.

But if you were to try and pass a law saying... The taxpayer is going to give 130 million quid to political parties. I think it would not be very popular right now.

But if you were to try and pass a law saying... The taxpayer is going to give 130 million quid to political parties. I think it would not be very popular right now.

Dogs are a problem. I'm not sure I would allow them anyway. That might be the most unpopular policy in British history.

Dogs are a problem. I'm not sure I would allow them anyway. That might be the most unpopular policy in British history.

I don't think I would dare go there.

I don't think I would dare go there.

It would save an enormous amount of money. So with the COVID inquiry, they're going to come to the COVID VIP lane scandal, which is March 2020. COVID's reached the UK. We need loads of protective kit, masks, gowns in a hurry, just millions and millions of masks. And where are you going to get them? It's just a crisis. It's a nightmare.

It would save an enormous amount of money. So with the COVID inquiry, they're going to come to the COVID VIP lane scandal, which is March 2020. COVID's reached the UK. We need loads of protective kit, masks, gowns in a hurry, just millions and millions of masks. And where are you going to get them? It's just a crisis. It's a nightmare.

And what happens is a lot of conservative donors, like Michelle Moan, kind of WhatsApp ministers who they're mating with. Because if you're a donor, you meet politicians a lot at dinners because you get to be at the dinner. And they say, oh, well, I have a PPE company. I can supply you with kit. And the minister WhatsApps back saying, yeah, brilliant. I'll tell the civil servants too.

And what happens is a lot of conservative donors, like Michelle Moan, kind of WhatsApp ministers who they're mating with. Because if you're a donor, you meet politicians a lot at dinners because you get to be at the dinner. And they say, oh, well, I have a PPE company. I can supply you with kit. And the minister WhatsApps back saying, yeah, brilliant. I'll tell the civil servants too.

I'll tell the civil servants to wave you through. And so they have this, what the civil servants start to call the VIP lane, where if you've been referred by a minister, then the civil servants are terrified of saying no. And the civil servants internally have this conversation, yeah, but this person, minister's mate, has never made or acquired masks. Why are we... Forget about it.

I'll tell the civil servants to wave you through. And so they have this, what the civil servants start to call the VIP lane, where if you've been referred by a minister, then the civil servants are terrified of saying no. And the civil servants internally have this conversation, yeah, but this person, minister's mate, has never made or acquired masks. Why are we... Forget about it.