The alternative is State funding of political parties via taxation.
Little as it appeals, the cost would not be so vast, and it might be worth paying for, in order to avoid having politicians disporting themselves before a motley assortment of vested interests, in the hope of getting a couple of million tucked into their suspender belts. Someone will buy their loyalty, it might be better if that someone was the British people rather than Ecclestone, Mittal, Unison, etc.