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Political Parties and Elections Bill

I am sure the noble Lord would not argue that in a splendid taxation system there are not anomalies from time to time. Clearly this is one and we are against the principle of extending it. The Committee probably think more highly of politics and political parties than some other parts of the population, but we cannot support the proposal in the amendment that political parties should benefit from additional sums of taxpayers’ money. It is with some temerity that I must shatter this consensus. On that basis, I hope the noble Lord will withdraw the amendment.