Donations from dead Conservatives were double that from the living in 2017

Donations from dead Conservatives were double that from living members last year, official figures show.

Meanwhile, Labour hit a new fundraising record of nearly £56 million, including nearly £1.8 million more in membership fees compared to the previous year.

Legacies from dead Conservative donors were double those from living members in 2017, with just under £1.7 million paid in legacies versus £835,000 from memberships.

Conservative membership payments have halved from £1,459,000 a year earlier and legacies were more than five times higher, jumping from £301,000.

In contrast, Labour saw membership payments rise from about £14.4 million in 2016 to just over £16 million in 2017.

Jeremy Corbyn's party also set a new record income of just over £4.5 million more than its previous record of £51,153,000 in 2015.

Labour both raised and spent about £10 million more than the Conservatives, with income of £55,793,000 and a spend of £54,342,000 in 2017.

A Labour spokesman said: "Unlike the Tories, who rely on a few super-rich donors to bankroll them, we're proud to be powered by small donations from hundreds of thousands of people across the country."

Accounts for Theresa May's party show it took in a much lower £45,947,000 and spent £44,867,000.

POLITICS Income
POLITICS Income

No other political party raised more than £10 million, with the Liberal Democrats in third place, taking in £9,710,000 but spending £10,454,000.

The SNP raised £5,800,000 and spent £5,098,000.

SNP depute leader Keith Brown said: "It's clear the Tories are being kept afloat by a tiny group of super-rich donors to survive.

"With thousands more people joining the SNP in the wake of the Westminster walk-out in June, it looks like we're on the cusp of overtaking the Tories to become the second largest party in the UK."

In 2017, 10 parties reported income or expenditure of more than £250,000 compared to 12 in 2016. In total, these 10 parties reported £125,332,064 income and £122,193,805 expenditure.

Full details of the financial accounts published today are here:https://t.co/lOBptCxudjpic.twitter.com/S9g5rjpm1p

-- Electoral Commission (@ElectoralCommUK) August 22, 2018

Spending by all political parties soared 30% in 2017 compared to the year before, Electoral Commission figures show.

The snap general election saw parties spend nearly £28 million more than in 2016.

Income for parties rose slightly less by just over £24 million - a rise of 24%.

Figures are for the 10 political parties that raised more than £250,000 for the year ending December 31.

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