Political parties face cuts to election ad budgets

Labour and the Tories are expected to cut the legal campaign limit for election spending in an attempt to head off a backlash from taxpayers over the plan to increase state funding to parties to reduce their dependency on donors.

Parties are each allowed to spend up to £20m on the election in the 12 months preceding  it. David Cameron, the Conservative Party's leader, has proposed a £15m limit for future elections.

The proposal will be considered in a review of party funding by Sir Hayden Phillips, a former top civil servant.

The Liberal Democrats also back a £15m limit and have called for extra state funding for parties, to be funded in part by a 10% cut in the government's adspend.

Labour, Tory and Liberal Democrat officials said this week that advertising would be the most vulnerable element of their budgets if a lower limit is agreed.

If you have an opinion on this or any other issue raised on Brand Republic, join the debate in the Forum.

This article was first published on Campaign