Short Money is a payment given to Opposition Parties in the House of Commons every year in order to help out with the costs of playing politics without access to the machine of government. It's named for Ted Short, the Minister who proposed and introduced it in 1974.
Naturally, the Liberals (and then the Alliance and then the LibDems) have recieved Short Money every year since it was introduced. But as they are now in government they are no longer eligible. However, it seems that they think they
ought to be paid it anyway. It's possible that we could see a big, big political row over this.
Anyway. New Politics!
