George Osborne announces cut in political party funding

Spotted by Buzzfeed in George Osborne’s 2015 Autumn Statement is a cut in political party funding:

In 2015-16 the Liberal Democrats are down to receive £497,351.30 in Short Money. The Lib Dem response has been to say,

This is not a cut in the cost of politics; it is an attack on democracy.

While on the one hand the government wants to cut Short Money, they are spending £289 million, this year alone, on government spinners and marketing. This proposal is a purely partisan move that will backfire on the government disastrously.