Membership numbers for the UK’s major political parties continued to decline in 2023, despite preparations for an impending general election, newly released accounts reveal.
The Labour Party experienced a significant drop, losing 37,000 members over the year, bringing its total to 370,450 by December 2023. While it remains the largest party in terms of membership, this figure represents a steep decline from its peak of 532,046 at the end of 2019.
The Liberal Democrats also saw a reduction in their ranks, with membership falling by around 11,000 to 86,599. However, the party reported a subsequent increase in new members following its gains in the July general election.
The Conservative Party has not disclosed its membership numbers, but its income from membership fees fell from £1.97 million to £1.5 million, indicating a likely decline. In contrast, the Green Party maintained stable membership figures, holding steady at approximately 53,000.
Reform UK claimed a “significant” increase in membership, though it did not provide specific numbers.
A spokesperson for the left-wing Labour campaign group Momentum attributed Labour’s declining membership to what they described as the leadership’s rejection of transformative policies and suppression of pluralism within the party. “This strategy may seem effective now, but in the long-term, Labour requires an active, engaged membership to remain politically relevant,” the spokesperson warned.
Conversely, a Labour Party representative highlighted that thousands of new members had joined since the general election. They credited Keir Starmer’s leadership with reviving the party’s focus on public service and national rebuilding, which was crucial to Labour’s historic election victory. The spokesperson praised the dedication and enthusiasm of party members during the campaign.
Despite the drop in membership and increased spending in preparation for the general election, Labour ended the year with a smaller deficit than anticipated—£851,000 compared to the expected £2.5 million. The shortfall was mitigated by a surge in high-value donations and strong attendance at the party’s annual conference, according to party treasurer David Evans.
The Liberal Democrats closed 2023 with a surplus of £271,258, buoyed by a marked rise in donations and conference income. The Conservatives, too, recorded a surplus of £17.9 million, largely due to a £10 million bequest from supermarket magnate Lord John Sainsbury. The party also reported its most successful non-election year fundraising quarter at the beginning of 2023. However, during the recent election campaign, Conservative donations significantly lagged behind Labour’s.
The Scottish National Party (SNP) endured a turbulent year, marked by Nicola Sturgeon’s resignation and an ongoing police investigation into the party’s finances. As a result, its membership dropped by approximately 18,000 to 64,525. The SNP’s membership has nearly halved since its peak of 125,691 in 2019, a figure driven by the post-2014 independence referendum surge.
SNP treasurer Stuart Campbell McDonald noted the financial pressures facing members and said the party was exploring options to help members reduce or pause their payments to prevent further cancellations. Despite these challenges, an SNP spokesperson maintained that the party remains the largest in Scotland, with a membership that surpasses the combined total of all other parties.
