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Labour Party makes £7.5m surplus Labour Party makes £7.5m surplus
(31 minutes later)
The Labour Party made a £7.51m surplus last year - compared with an £814,000 deficit in 2006 - accounts released by the Electoral Commission reveal.The Labour Party made a £7.51m surplus last year - compared with an £814,000 deficit in 2006 - accounts released by the Electoral Commission reveal.
The Conservatives recorded a £1.57m surplus, down from £4.2m.The Conservatives recorded a £1.57m surplus, down from £4.2m.
And the Lib Dems recorded a deficit of £366,677 - compared with a surplus of £1.18m in 2006.And the Lib Dems recorded a deficit of £366,677 - compared with a surplus of £1.18m in 2006.
Meanwhile, the commission has fined Sinn Fein £500 for submitting its accounts after the official deadline of 7 July.Meanwhile, the commission has fined Sinn Fein £500 for submitting its accounts after the official deadline of 7 July.
More finesMore fines
The figures also reveal that the Scottish National Party made a £240,590 deficit in 2007, compared with a £452,251 surplus in 2006. Its figures show that in 2007 Labour cut its net debt from almost £25m to £18.9m.
Treasurer Jack Dromey said the party had shown "a new discipline of approach" and a determination to "live within its means".
Meanwhile, the Conservative Party showed a reduction in debt from £9m to £7.75m.
The accounts put out by the commission also reveal that the Scottish National Party made a £240,590 deficit in 2007, compared with a £452,251 surplus in 2006.
In the same period Plaid Cymru went from a £392,518 surplus to a £276,341 deficit.In the same period Plaid Cymru went from a £392,518 surplus to a £276,341 deficit.
As well as Sinn Fein's fine, the BNP's regional accounting unit has been issued with a £100 penalty notice for late filing of accounts.As well as Sinn Fein's fine, the BNP's regional accounting unit has been issued with a £100 penalty notice for late filing of accounts.
The Welsh Liberal Democrats' accounting unit has yet to give its details and the resulting fine will "depend on how late they are", the commission says.The Welsh Liberal Democrats' accounting unit has yet to give its details and the resulting fine will "depend on how late they are", the commission says.
"The accounts of a party are a key source of information for anyone wishing to find out more about a political party's finances," says chief executive Peter Wardle."The accounts of a party are a key source of information for anyone wishing to find out more about a political party's finances," says chief executive Peter Wardle.
"Easy comparison between different parties' statements of accounts is not currently possible because parties and accounting units use different formats and naming conventions."Easy comparison between different parties' statements of accounts is not currently possible because parties and accounting units use different formats and naming conventions.
"The commission is consulting on prescribing regulations that will set out how accounts must be presented with more consistency and transparency.""The commission is consulting on prescribing regulations that will set out how accounts must be presented with more consistency and transparency."