MILLIONAIRES AND POLITICS

by RAY FLEMING
THERE seem to be two quite separate aspects to the case of Michael Brown, the British millionaire Majorca resident, who was arrested this week and is likely to be extradited to Britain to face 53 serious charges including forgery, perjury and false accounting. The case would be serious enough by itself but it is linked to the quixotic donation of more then two million pounds that Mr Brown made to the Liberal Democrats before the UK's general election last year. At the time questions were raised about the legality of this donation because of Mr Brown's overseas residence and uncertainty about whether the company he used for the purpose was properly registered in Britain. The Electoral Commission investigated the matter and gave the Liberal Democrats a qualified clearance. This case, whatever its outcome, adds to the anxiety being felt by political parties and the electorate about funding from rich donors. Over the past fifteen years there has been a succession of cases of individuals whose financial status has been questionable or who have expected a peerage or gong in return for their help. Various investigations are under way and recommendations will be made for reform, few of which will be watertight. Fighting an election has become an obscenely expensive business. There is talk of putting a cap on donations. But a better approach might be an agreement by the parties on limits on the use of press, poster and TV advertising.