Joanna Tuffy (Labour)

Spending limits should be imposed. I do not want elections to be run here as they are in the United States of America where it is all about extensive funding from large corporations. These questions arise from problems we have had in the past. If no limits are in place, candidates will be competing with people who are spending huge amounts of money, which will beg the question of the source of finance and to whom one becomes accountable.

While I realise there are difficulties and that we need to examine the number of declarations we have to make, I recognise the positive effects of spending limits and I do not support getting rid of them. Without expenditure limits, there is no equal playing field and certain problems are invited. On a level playing pitch there is control over accountability and funding. I am sure many politicians were happy to know they would not be swamped by their opposition because everyone was limited in terms of what they could spend. Without limits everyone will spend a fortune as they do in the USA.