Tribune thinks it’s pretty close:
Labour chiefs have until the end of this month to plug a £4 million hole in the party’s finances and avert the possibility of a formal declaration of bankruptcy.
The financial crisis in the wake of the party’s drubbing at the local and London polls comes as Gordon Brown faces another humiliation with a possible defeat by the Tories in the Crewe and Nantwich by-election.
Auditors are due to sign off the party’s accounts soon after the end of May, but there are fears that they will refuse to do so and instead declare the party insolvent.
Arrangements have been made to account for most of the party’s £21 million debt, through negotiations with the Co-op Bank and rescheduling deals done with the donors of the controversial loans which led to the “cash-for-honours” affair.
But officers have identified a gap in the balance sheet of around £4 million which must be closed in order to satisfy the auditors, either by cash in the bank or certifiable promissory notes.
The size of Labour’s financial problems, and the possibility of incurring personal liability, are reported to be the reasons for City financier David Pitt-Watson refusing to take up the post of general secretary.
Read the full story here.
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A Week in Politics #9
The Joy of Six 1589
The oldest pub in Swansea and the secret tunnel
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Latest voting intention and leadership ratings opinion polls
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4 Comments
It wouldn’t surprise me if Labour did go bankrupt, as it would follow in a trend of the NewLabour preference for short-term solutions.
We have seen personal debt grow to fund the ‘growth and succes’s of the wider economy, PPP and PFI debt to fund the ‘growth and sustainability’ of the state – so why wouldn’t Labour’s electoral success be based on the never-never too?
They could then wind the party up, and re-launch as New Conservatives…
And will the Lib Dems be bankrupt when you finally have to return your crooked donations from 5th Avenue? Let’s hope so.
Hey Frank while your at it dont forget to point out that wicked Lloyd George fund money – that naughty, naughty man. Perhaps the continuing Liberal Party should pay it all back?