Mark Pack

Political party borrowing: prepare for a round of misreporting

By | Wed 26th November 2008 - 2:19 pm

The latest figures from the Electoral Commission for donations to political parties and borrowing by parties are out today.

It includes the claim that, “As at 30 September 2008, total borrowing stood at just over £31 million.”

As is now traditional, the Electoral Commission is in fact misreporting its own figures. As I wrote last time:

You will find that this is actually the total figure for borrowing plus unused credit facilities. It’s as if I had an unused credit card with a £500 limit that’s never come out of the envelope and never been used, but you said, “Ah ha! You are borrowing £500.”

The real figure for “total borrowing” is actually over £10 million less than given in the Electoral Commission’s press release. Sigh.

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One Comment

  • David Evans 26th Nov '08 - 8:15pm

    Another example of officials ‘over egging’ things to make them and their jobs seem more important.

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