Westminster's standards watchdog has called for "radical" reform of the regulation of Britain's democratic system, to prevent a repeat of the controversy over loans to political parties and crack down on electoral fraud.
The Committee on Standards in Public Life called for a thorough overhaul of the Electoral Commission, accusing it of a "passive" approach to the issue of party funding.
And it was heavily critical of moves to make postal voting easier, recommending the introduction of individual voter registration as part of a package of measures to stop fraud.
Releasing a report on the work of the Electoral Commission, Committee chairman Sir Alistair Graham also called on political parties to abide by the spirit, as well as the letter, of rules designed to make their funding arrangements more transparent.
"Political parties have a responsibility, not just to try to comply with the letter of the regulatory framework that governs their funding and expenditure, but also with the spirit of transparency that underpins it," he said.
"Public scepticism is justified if parties are seen to avoid or circumvent the principle of transparency.
"Confidence and consent in our democratic processes is the bedrock on which all public office is built.
"We need a system that ensures free, fair and secure elections, and healthy competitive political parties free from suspicion about how they are funded.
"The Committee's recommendations - if adopted - will help deliver this and greatly enhance the health of our democratic system."
Thursday's report comes in the wake of controversy over secret loans running into millions of pounds which bankrolled the General Election campaigns of both the Conservatives and Labour in 2005.
