Politics

SNP and Greens join calls for backdating of Stormont party donations

Jonathan Bartley, co-leader of the Green Party of England and Wales
Jonathan Bartley, co-leader of the Green Party of England and Wales Jonathan Bartley, co-leader of the Green Party of England and Wales

THE SNP and Green Party in England and Wales have joined calls for James Brokenshire to backdate the publication of Stormont party donations.

The secretary of state announced on Monday that donors to political parties in Northern Ireland from this month onwards will be made public.

However, some Stormont parties and the Electoral Commission have said it should be backdated to 2014, when legislation enabled future publication of donations.

Unlike in Britain, the identities of donors to parties have until now remained secret due to security concerns.

Jonathan Bartley, co-leader of the Green Party, welcomed the secretary of state's announcement but said he "shouldn't stop there".

"Transparency and accountability are vital for trust in politics. With the DUP set to exercise a disproportionate influence in Westminster, people across the UK deserve to know who is funding Northern Irish political parties, so it's welcome news that donations will now have to be published," he said.

"But if we are serious about transparency the secretary of state shouldn't stop there. To really understand who pulls the strings in Northern Irish politics we need to know about past donations too."

SNP MP Deidre Brock, the party's Northern Ireland spokesperson, said: "Transparency in politics is key and all donations should be open to public scrutiny.

"When the Electoral Commission says declarations should be backdated then that advice should be listened to."

Meanwhile, the DUP's Jeffrey Donaldson has insisted there was no "side deal" between his party and the Conservatives on donations.

Seamus Magee, a former head of the Electoral Commission, claimed on Twitter that the failure to backdate publication to 2014 "must be part of the DUP/Conservative deal. No other explanation".

Yesterday Mr Donaldson told the BBC it was "absolutely not" true.

"I was deeply disappointed to read Seamus Magee's tweet last night," the Lagan Valley MP said.

"Totally innacurate. And I hope that Seamus, a man of integrity whom I respect, will take my word for it.

"There is no side deal on party political donations."