Response to Bradford West by-election result

Responding to George Galloway’s sensational by-election victory in Bradford West, the Director of Unlock Democracy director Peter Facey said:

“In a week when the political establishment made a concerted effort to move the debate away from corruption and party funding and onto Cornish pasties, the people of Bradford West have fired a shot across their bows.

“All the main parties have been implicated by the recent cash for access scandal, and it is no surprise that they have been so eager to move on the debate.  The result in Bradford West however shows quite how futile that approach may be.

“Ed Miliband in particular should reflect on this result and adopt a more constructive stance in the debate over party funding.  At the heart of the way our political parties are financed is the way they are connected to the general public.  Too much dependence on a handful of millionaires and trade union general secretaries, rather than trade union members themselves, will only lead to more political upsets like the one we have seen this week.”