In the Reds: Labour loses more than 91,000 members in a year amid an exodus of Corbynistas
Labour suffered an exodus of more than 91,000 members last year, helping to create a £4.8million hole in its finances.
In what its official accounts said was a ‘difficult and demanding’ 2021 the number of the faithful fell below 500,000 for the first time since Jeremy Corbyn was elected leader in 2015.
The fall in membership of more than 17 per cent under Keir Starmer comes as hard Left elements who joined to support his predecessor depart as the party seeks amore mainstream political position.
But it does not help the party’s funds. Accounts filed with the Electoral Commission show that Labour generated more income than the Tories for the second successive year in 2021.
But it also spent more than the Tories for the fourth year in a row, leaving a hole to be filled by its cash reserves. The Conservatives do not publicise the number of members the party has.
‘Despite many positives – including membership income comparable with 2017 and 2018, a huge amount in a nonelection year – party finances do remain challenging with pressure on income coinciding with increasing costs,’ Labour treasurers David Evans and Diana Holland wrote.
They added that ‘moving into 2022 we continue to face financial pressures and the need to act with prudence.’
In what its official accounts said was a ‘difficult and demanding’ 2021 the number of the faithful fell below 500,000 for the first time since Jeremy Corbyn was elected leader in 2015.
Accounts filed with the Electoral Commission show that Labour generated more income than the Tories for the second successive year in 2021. But it also spent more than the Tories for the fourth year in a row.
They added that a ‘one-off cost’ of a voluntary severance scheme’ contributed to the deficit, adding: ‘For the avoidance of doubt, the Party remains debt free.’
Sir Keir had his latest brush with the left of the party this week over the cost-of-living crisis.
The Labour leader has suggested freezing the energy price cap at its current level of £1,971 rather than letting it rise to £3,500 as expected.
But the Socialist Campaign Group of MPs are demanding he back wholesale, expensive renationalisation of vital industries.
Labour’s former shadow chancellor John McDonnell criticised the cap, branding it a ‘short-term solution’ which would do ‘nothing extra’ to help the poorest households cope with existing bills.
He tweeted: ‘Freezing energy bills is right call, but short-term solution of giving £29billion of public money to energy companies with nothing in return – either control or ownership or reform – and back here in six months.’
And SCG secretary Richard Burgon has demanded a £15 per hour minimum wage. and a ‘Wealth Tax on the super-rich to give millions the help they need’.
