Unionist parties in debt as nationalist finances thrive

Reg Empey’s Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) were in the red by almost £500,000 (€730,480) last year, it was revealed today.

According to figures released by the Electoral Commission, the UUP had debts of more than £450,000 (€657,432) last December at the end of a disappointing electoral year.

In a statement accompanying its accounts reviewing what it described as a difficult year, the UUP acknowledged the existence of two party bank accounts which had not figured in the 2004 end of year financial statement.

The previously undeclared bank accounts were referred for investigation to the police last month by the Electoral Commission.

Ian Paisley’s Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), which had their best ever set of Westminster and local government election results last year, also recorded debts last year of more than £52,000 (€75,970).

Its statement revealed the party had 2,912 members by the end of the year, with three new branches formed in Erne North in Co Fermanagh, as well as Killultagh and Ballyclare in Co Antrim.

Three branches ceased to exist in Donaghadee and Moira in Co Down and Ballinamallard in Co Fermanagh but were swallowed by other branches.

In contrast, the North’s two nationalist parties, Sinn Féin and the SDLP both recorded surpluses for 2005.

Mark Durkan’s SDLP, which was beset with debts years ago, recorded a surplus of more than £58,000 (€84,736).

The party recorded a slight fall in its income from party members from more than £76,500 (€111,779) in 2004 to more than £68,000 (€99,350) last year.

It also saw donations and fundraising fall from more than £565,000 (€825,487) to more than £334,000 (€487,987).

However conference income increased, as did the value of a policy grant from the Electoral Commission.

The SDLP vowed to make “strenuous efforts to increase its membership during 2006 as well as taking steps to improve our fundraising activities”.

After recording a £200,000 (292,217) deficit in 2004, Sinn Féin returned a surplus of more than £1,300 (€1,900).

The party said this was due to an increased contribution from its elected representatives which rose from more than £348,000 (€508,556) in 2004 to more than £482,000 (€704,379) last year.

However political donations to Gerry Adams’ party fell from almost £181,000 in 2004 to more than £137,000 (€264,375) last year.

In a statement accompanying the accounts, Sinn Féin said it expected 2005 to be a tough year financially following the decision by the British government to stop its Assembly Party Allowance and its Westminster allowances.

“In November our Assembly party allowance and our Westminster allowances were restored and we finally got the equivalent of short money,” the party noted.

“However we still have not got the policy development grants which the other parties have long enjoyed. We will continue to rely on the generosity of our elected representatives and our donors especially, as always, Friends of Sinn Féin.”

The cross community Alliance Party recorded a deficit of more than £42,000 (€61,358) but insisted it remained in a reasonable financial shape.

“The party did have a significant deficit during 2005 due to the costs of running two major election campaigns in one year,” Alliance explained.

“Effective action was taken to contain costs to the minimum required to run a professional and effective campaign. It is expected that the deficit can be managed over the course of the four-year election cycle.”

The Progressive Unionists recorded a deficit of almost £6,300 and the UK Unionists a surplus of nearly £2,000 (€2,922).

Statements were also filed by the Green Party, the Socialist Party, the Newtownabbey Ratepayers Association, Rainbow George’s Make Politicians History Party, the Telepathic Partnership.com Party and the National Front in Northern Ireland.

The statement from the Women’s Coalition, which folded in May this year, revealed it was forced to close its offices in November and recoup funds by selling off stationery and furniture.

This followed the departure of Monica McWilliams to become the chief of the Human Rights Commission in the North and the loss of its last remaining seat in the local government elections.