Party funding rules unfair

The latest list of political donations (your report, 25 August) highlights the problem indigenous Scottish parties have at elections when they have to compete financially with Labour, Conservative and other parties funded from outside Scotland, who also have a near monopoly of political coverage on BBC and ITV "national" news bulletins and have the benefit of free campaigning by their newspaper-owning friends.

The Electoral Commission reveals that more than 95 per cent of Labour’s donations for the last Scottish Parliament elections came from English-based trade unions, despite the fact only a minority of union members support new Labour. The only reported individual donation to the Scottish Labour Party accounting unit in 2003 was 1,395 by one Jack McConnell; so much for popular support.

The Scottish Conservatives do not publish separate accounts, but they are largely funded by a Monaco-based tax exile.

Is it right that the 5,000 national reporting limit deters the moderately wealthy, while multi-millionaires can donate untold sums to buy passports or to prevent bans on cigarette advertising on racing cars?

Is it right that the Labour Party and the Conservative Party are allowed to contest elections with a "Scottish" designation but are not obliged to register as autonomous political parties, which would highlight the transfer of funds and resources from outside Scotland?

State funding of political parties will not have universal approval, but unless the Electoral Commission takes action and can convince the government of the importance of a level playing field, in both the media and financial aspects of elections, then state funding, coupled with a draconian cap on individual, corporate and trade union donations, will be the only way to ensure some equality of democratic opportunity in Scottish elections.

ANDREW ROSIE

MacDowall Road

Edinburgh