“DODGY donors” should be pushed out of politics, a new independent report has urged.

The Electoral Reform Society report follows the controversy surrounding tax-dodging Tory donors that have been under the spotlight in recent weeks.

The liberal think tank calls for a limit on election campaign spending and a £10,000 donations cap “to end the big-donor culture that has led to scandal after scandal.”

More controversial will be proposals for state funding of political parties and the application of the donations cap to trade union contributions.

Only “opt-in” affiliation fees would be exempted, under the proposals.

And parties would be doled out £3 per vote in Westminster elections and £1.50 per vote in devolved legislatures from the public purse.

Electoral Reform Society deputy chief executive Darren Hughes said: “The public are sick to death of party funding scandals, and the latest revelations have simply added more fuel to the fire.

“Whatever the outcome in May, the next government has to get to grips with the way parties are funded. The litany of suspect deals and shady funding practices revealed over the past few years shows that unless serious action is taken, the next scandal will be just around the corner.

“There is huge public support for doing what it takes to get big money out of politics, so whichever party takes a lead on this could stand to benefit at the polls.”

A Labour Party spokesman did not respond to a request for comment.