But the controversy over donations hasn't been about core election funding, it's been over freebies for politicians. But if political parties can't fundraise from a wide pool of people, they shouldn't get life support from the state.

What people don’t like about donor funding is wondering what the donor gets in return. You alluded to it yourself surely when you talked about ‘dodgy donors’(though in this case of course no quid pro quo identified). Nothing stopping anyone fundraising from a wide pool, meanwhile.