In my role as a member of the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission, I was recently asked to answer questions in the House of Commons on behalf of the Commission.
One question focused on the potential merits of banning foreign donations to UK political parties. I explained that while Parliament explicitly intended to prohibit foreign donations when the Political Finance regime was established, current laws have limitations. These allow money from foreign sources to enter the UK electoral system indirectly through UK-registered companies.
To address this, the Electoral Commission has recommended important reforms:
- Strengthening laws to prevent donations from companies that do not generate sufficient income in the UK.
- Introducing enhanced "know your donor" checks.
- Improving transparency for donations made via unincorporated associations.
These changes would help safeguard the integrity of our democratic system and maintain public confidence in how political parties are funded.
