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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Labour Party reduces debts by £6m | Labour Party reduces debts by £6m |
| (about 23 hours later) | |
| Labour cut its debt by more than £6m to £18.9m last year, figures from the Electoral Commission reveal. | Labour cut its debt by more than £6m to £18.9m last year, figures from the Electoral Commission reveal. |
| The Conservative Party reduced the amount it owed from £9m to £7.75m, while the Lib Dems ended the year £1.3m in the black. | The Conservative Party reduced the amount it owed from £9m to £7.75m, while the Lib Dems ended the year £1.3m in the black. |
| Meanwhile, Sinn Fein was fined £500 for submitting its accounts after the 7 July deadline. | Meanwhile, Sinn Fein was fined £500 for submitting its accounts after the 7 July deadline. |
| The commission said it was looking at reforming the way parties present accounts to make them more consistent. | The commission said it was looking at reforming the way parties present accounts to make them more consistent. |
| Running costs | Running costs |
| Labour made a £7.51m operating surplus last year - compared with an £814,000 deficit in 2006 - accounts released by the Electoral Commission reveal. | Labour made a £7.51m operating surplus last year - compared with an £814,000 deficit in 2006 - accounts released by the Electoral Commission reveal. |
| Treasurer Jack Dromey said the party had shown "a new discipline of approach" and a determination to "live within its means". | Treasurer Jack Dromey said the party had shown "a new discipline of approach" and a determination to "live within its means". |
| The Conservatives recorded a £1.57m surplus, down from £4.2mThe Tories recorded a £1.57m surplus, down from £4.2m. | |
| And the Lib Dems recorded an operating deficit of £366,677 - compared with a surplus of £1.18m in 2006. | And the Lib Dems recorded an operating deficit of £366,677 - compared with a surplus of £1.18m in 2006. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 'Key source' | 'Key source' |
| As well as Sinn Fein's fine, the British National Party'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 British National Party'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," said 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," said 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." |