Labour lost almost 46,000 members last year, official figures show

Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour lost almost 46,000 members last year as it ramped up efforts for another general election, official figures have shown.

Despite the staggering number of members leaving the party, Labour continued to have by far the largest membership of the British political parties, reporting 518,659 individual members on December 31.

This large number is a decrease from 2017, when the party had 564, 443 members.

Concerns over the leadership’s approach to Brexit, plus the row over the handling of anti-Semitism allegations, have been ongoing issues in the period.

Figures from the treasurers’ report from Jennie Formby and Diana Holland showed there was an increase in membership income – almost £800,000 to £16.9 million – in 2018 while the fall in member numbers was “in line with previous experience”.

Labour also raised the most income and spent the most funds in 2018, according to the financial accounts of political parties.

The Electoral Commission published details from 11 parties in Great Britain, with Labour’s income amounting to £45.6 million and expenditure £46.3 million.

The Conservatives were second with income of £34.2 million and expenditure of £36.3 million while the Liberal Democrats received £6.2 million and spent £6.5 million.

The SNP reported income of £4.7 million and expenditure of £3.6 million, and the Green Party income of £1.9 million and expenditure of £2.2 million.

Income and expenditure for most of the major parties decreased in 2018 compared to 2017, which featured a snap general election.

Labour’s income was £55.7 million and expenditure £54.3 million in 2017 while the Tories raised £45.9 million and spent £44.8 million in the same 12-month period.

For the Conservatives under Theresa May’s leadership, the treasurers’ review from Sir Mick Davis and Alan Mabbutt said the party’s income in 2018 was the “highest level … achieved in the last 40 years, outside a general election or European election year”.

Membership income also increased from £835,000 to £1.47 million, the pair added, although membership numbers were not provided for the period.

Additional reporting by Press Associatio