The Green Party is facing mounting financial woes as it approaches the UK’s next general election. The party may be forced to pay up to £400,000 in a legal case brought against it by former deputy leader Dr Shahrar Ali. The case has resulted in “uncertainty” regarding the party’s ability to fund its operations, according to financial auditors. It has prompted the Greens to consider increasing membership fees by 50%, from £3.33 per month to £5 per month, plus a £6 yearly concession fee, if voted through at next week’s Green Party conference.
Dr Ali claims that party leaders with opposing views on gender issues “collaborated” to force him out of his position as policing spokesman, which the party denies. Details on the exact costs of the legal case have not been provided, and the party has stated its intention to take action to recover costs incurred from Dr Ali. There are concerns that the party may suffer in the lead-up to the election as a result of the financial burden.
The Green Party’s latest accounts showed that it spent £80,000 more than the £3.15m it raised last year, resulting in a cash shortfall. While spending more than it generates in a year is common for political parties, it has soared into debt as its income has increased. Therefore, the Greens are considering the increase in membership fees as a means of building funds.
The party has a strict policy to refuse donations from polluting industries, pornography, or the arms trade, and as such fundraising is a continuous struggle. It is unclear how this change in fees will affect the party’s membership and financial stability. The UK’s general election is expected to take place next spring, and all candidates are required to place a £500 deposit, refundable only if they win more than 5% of the total votes in their constituency
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