One year after Labour’s ejection from office and the coalition government’s formation, all three parties faced their first major test at the ballot box in yesterday’s ‘Super Thursday’ elections. With the impact of the government’s austerity beginning to bite as growth grinds to halt, and the list of Liberal Democrat broken promises growing, the elections provided a real opportunity for Labour. Before entering Downing Street, David Cameron was widely reported as predicting that, one year in, his government would be the most unpopular in living memory.

Ahead of the upcoming report on the funding of political parties, Peter Watt looks at how changes to the way Labour raises money could bring about a stronger relationship with the trade unions and the public at large.