Britain's policies are not for sale

The co-treasurer of the UK's Conservative Party has been forced to resign after he was caught apparently offering businessmen access to Prime Minister David Cameron in return for donations to the party.

Businessmen and politicians have always been awkward bedfellows. Political parties need money to campaign effectively. There is no problem with them engaging in fund-raising activities, including facilitating access to political leaders, in return for donations. However, this needs to be done in an open and transparent manner.

Neither is there a problem with businessmen and other groups lobbying political parties and government officials to try and promote their interests and influence state policies. Politicians must be able to hear the concerns of interest groups — rich and poor alike — and respond to them in an appropriate manner. However, this is very different from groups using their resources to buy influence or politicians putting government policy up for sale to the highest bidder.

Cameron — who had committed himself to keeping party funding in the UK above board — has condemned the actions of the former treasurer, Peter Cruddas. Cruddas has denied any intentional wrongdoing. But, no matter the intention of the former treasurer, his resignation was necessary to stamp out the perception that British government policy is for sale.