Is it fair?

A number of Labour MPs in marginal seats are complaining at the financing of activities in their seats by Lord Ashcroft. They are urging the Government to cap spending by individuals between elections, as well as during elections.

The official Tory position on this, I believe, is to agree, so long as the same applies to each Trade Union. Significantly the CWU, the union at loggerheads with Royal Mail, has donated £4.5m to the Labour cause over the past four years, half to the party centrally and half to campaigning for the Government. How many Trade Unions are there?

Robert Halfon, ppc for Harlow, in a letter to the Guardian which has not yet been published, complained that sitting MPs in marginals like his (Labour majority 97), have a built in advantage. MPs have been receiving £18,000 annually (recently with a £10,000 bonus added) to communicate with electors, and also £7,000 postal expenses and a fully staffed office also funded by the taxpayer. It seems that his opponent regularly writes unsolicited letters to constituents, and has the third highest postage bill at Westminster.

So with such allowances, plus Trade Union help, it is doubtful if Lord Ashcroft at best does more than level the playing field. But expect Labour to try to defeat Lord Ashcroft while allowing their troops to have the other advantages.

Brian R.