Donations rule changes are “hard to explain, harder to enforce, and risk looking less than even-handed”
Statement from Unlock Democracy
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Commenting on the government's proposed new changes to political donation rules, Tom Brake, Chief Executive of Unlock Democracy, said:
“The government’s latest proposals tie political donations up in ever more complicated rules that are hard to explain, harder to enforce and risk looking less than even-handed.
“While it’s welcome ministers accept the need for tougher restrictions on donations, these complex proposals risk replacing one set of problems with another.
“Far simpler, not to mention more effective, to cap all political donations at the same reasonable level – we’d argue no more than £100,000 – regardless of who or where they come from. Big money is no less game-changing when donated from Bayswater rather than Bangkok.
“Steve Reed has said that ‘British democracy is not for sale’. But these proposals do not stop political parties receiving multi-million donations from wealthy UK individuals or large companies. If the aim is, in Darren Jones’ words, ‘to crack down on those trying to buy – and sell – our democracy’, that omission is difficult to justify.
“A universal cap on donations would be easier to administer and far more likely to command public confidence. It would show a rightly sceptical electorate that political access and influence cannot be bought.
“More broadly, the accusation, however unfair, of partisan bias in these proposals shows why the rules of political competition should not be written by those with skin in the game. Detailed changes like these should be the job of the Electoral Commission.”
Regarding other aspects of the government’s response to the Rycroft Review into foreign interference in UK politics, Brake added:
“Enhanced parliamentary candidate disclosures are welcome, but an exemption for all personal gifts is too generous. Recent questions surrounding Nigel Farage's receipt of £5 million illustrate exactly why that distinction can become so difficult to sustain in practice. Only personal gifts of nominal value should be exempted from transparency requirements.”
-ENDS-
Notes to editors:
Unlock Democracy is a not-for-profit organisation which campaigns for a vibrant, inclusive democracy that puts power in the hands of the people.