Tuesday, January 01, 2008



Election funding: in force

The Electoral Finance Act came into force today, ensuring the fairness and transparency of our electoral process. No longer will the rich be able to leverage their wealth into disproportionate political power; instead, they'll have one vote, just like the rest of us. And if they want to try buying influence with large donations, they'll have to do so openly, rather than lurking in the shadows.

Given the horror with which the right reacted to this, you really have to wonder whether they're still stuck in the feudal era rather than the democratic one.

Correction: Bugger. Our resident legal eagle has pointed out that it is only the spending limits which come into force today, with the beginning of the regulated period, while the actuallaw has been in force for a few weeks. Oh well, from the screaming on the right, you'd hardly know.