text_body: --- DIVISION TITLE ---
  
  Political Parties Funding - Failed due to the Conservative Party
  
  --- MOTION EFFECT ---
  
  
  The majority voted for the motion:[1]
  
  **This House 
  * ''notes'' that political funding reform is essential to the future health of democracy in the UK and that Her Majesty's Gracious Speech said that the Government would bring forward proposals on the regulation of party finance and expenditure; 
  * ''regrets'' that a comprehensive reform package was not achieved by the inter-party talks owing to the unilateral decision of the Conservative Party to walk away from a draft agreement put to the parties by Sir Hayden Phillips, despite the fact that the draft agreement faithfully reflected recommendations in Sir Hayden's 15th March 2007 Report,[2] which they had earlier welcomed; and 
  * ''urges'' all parties to engage constructively in order to achieve lasting reform in the public interest.
  
  The original motion for put forth by the Conservative party had been rejected.[3]
  
  * [1] [http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2007-12-04c.698.1#g707.0 Jack Straw MP], House of Commons, 4 December 2007
  * [2] [http://www.partyfundingreview.gov.uk/73.htm The Review of the Funding of Political Parties Report], 15 March 2007
  * [3] [http://www.publicwhip.org.uk/division.php?date=2007-12-04&number=19 Division 19], House of Commons, 4 December 2007
  
  --- COMMENTS AND NOTES ---
  
  (put thoughts and notes for other researchers here)
  