e-views

Trade unionists trying to find out about the funding of political parties by individuals, companies and trade unions have since the middle of last year been able to check them out at the Electoral Commission website.

The commission has been the new government watchdog on party political funding since November 2000 although donation details only start from February 2001.

The website has quarterly reports of donations for each party as well as indirect funding such as help with travel and advertising. The three main parties are covered as are Plaid Cymru and the Scottish National Party.

There are also details on the funding of groups such as the British Nationalist Party, the Pro-Life Alliance and the United Kingdom Independence Party.

The information covers both central party organisations and local "accounting units" - usually constituency parties.

Another site which covers political donations- but with a bit more colour - is Red Star Research, which concentrates on Tony Blair's links with business people and the wealthy.

Where the Electoral Commission just gives names, Red Star Research gives the background of many of the individuals concerned. The site also lists details published by the Labour Party of donations over £5,000 detailed in their annual reports.

The site includes details of the special advisers in both Number 10 and departments of state. But other parts of the site, which aim to show Blair's power of patronage such as appointments to the government's many taskforces, are as yet incomplete.

* www.electoral-commission.gov.uk

* www.red-star-research.org.uk