“Tom Brake, the chief executive of Unlock Democracy, said the reforms passed “the Musk test” but said the government could go further – including a donations cap, saying there was “outsized influence of a handful of domestic mega-donors … An annual cap on donations from individuals and companies would begin to address public concern that politics can be bought.””
agdnan on
You are telling me that this is still possible and it up for debate?
intraspeculator on
Good. Ridiculous it’s taken so long. We should include banning donations from non uk residents too. Fuck all those Dyson types who left the UK so they don’t have to contribute taxes but think they can wield influence anyway.
planeloise on
Finally! I kept wondering when this government was going to start bullet proofing our democracy.
Donation cap is good but add banning of foreign interest lobbying of our politicians before, during and after their terms.
Unfortunately they can’t stop the online bots. I would also like to see privacy rights strengthened.
joeythemouse on
Long overdue. I’m hoping that the rule will apply to far-right limited companies too.
WinstonFox on
Good. We need to apply similar principles to UK companies. You can still be UK owned and receive “investment” from abroad and there are things they are looking at. Definitely a step in the right direction.
Step in the right direction, next we need to prohibit property purchase by non UK passport holders too.
NitrousOxide_ on
This should have been done a long while ago and needs to go through ASAP.
notAugustbutordinary on
Political donations should only be able to be made from those who are UK resident taxpayers, that goes for people and companies. The companies should be able to prove that they are not controlled by a non UK resident taxpayer or receiving funds from person/companies outside the UK by way of anything other than sales of goods and or services.
I’d then start considering similar rules for any company presenting “news”.
snufflesthebigdog on
Rightly so. The fact this was ever allowed was a threat to democracy.
LazarusHimself on
Musk must be prevented from straight up buying politicians.
UnfuddleMyPuddle on
Probably loads of loopholes but an excellent move by the government. Ensure any loophole is closed with the highest if crimes
welliedude on
Political donations from companies should be banned full stop. It should be uk residing real people only.
Cyb3rd31ic_Citiz3n on
Brilliant news!
Long time coming and I look forward to this being extended to ALL non-uk nationals. That includes Ex-Pats and all private donations.
A cap on individuals donations should also be implimented.
MrMrsPotts on
Won’t they just redirect the money via British owned companies? Musk gives money to UK company. UK company gives money to Reform etc
finestryan on
Could they just set up a UK ltd or something and funnel money in through that?
ChampionshipComplex on
Should also ban social media bots and foreign money in media generally. Because if foreign money cant support a party, it will just be used to drive misinformation instead.
soggyarsonist on
Fully expect the Conservative dominated House of Lords is going to obstruct this.
BuzLightbeerOfBarCmd on
Why should businesses be able to donate to politicians at all?
GeorginaFlopworthy on
Excellent news, though I suspect some Farage fans may be a little upset by this.
Boldboy72 on
political donations from ANY company is corruption and should be banned outright.
Donations from individuals should be limited to a maximum of £1000 in any given parliamentary term.
Political Action Committees should be illegal and funding from “think tanks” should also be illegal.
But, the politicians set the rules and get to be as corrupt as they want.
alrae70 on
Now stop letting MPs take money & freebies from foreign governments
NuclearCleanUp1 on
Desperately needed.
Conservatives and Reform would never bring this in
G_Morgan on
That should be extended to a ban on receiving anonymous crypto currency donations.
kahnindustries on
There should be no donations!
Each MP candidate should be given a fixed sum by the government to cover canvassing. All other donations should be banned!
ThirtyMileSniper on
Awesome. Now close the loophole where it can be funneled through a UK company that you only need £100 to incorporate.
loobricated on
So now all you have to do is offer a British backer of an idea a few gold mine deals via your embassy “diplomats” to support them?
Hot_Ad_6442 on
Would this also extend to certain groups like friends of Israel
Newfaceofrev on
Another one of those “Should have been illegal 40 years ago things”.
Twolef on
I’m sure there’s no way around this /s
Ban lobbying altogether.
JGG5 on
A good step, but a raindrop in the ocean compared to the massive influence of the foreigner-owned social media platforms.
The UK must regain control of its own political and cultural conversation from agenda-driven foreigners like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, who openly manipulate the platforms’ algorithms to privilege the voices they want heard and suppress the voices they want silenced.
We need heavy regulation of foreign-owned social media companies operating in the UK, starting with the assumption that no foreigner in a foreign country has a right to a voice in the UK — only a privilege, conditional on good behavior and alignment with British values of tolerance, respect, and good faith.
Wobblycogs on
It’s an absolute no-brainer, so I’m sure we’ll leave a million loopholes so it can continue. Maybe I’ve grown too cynical, but this is a drop in the ocean compared to the corruption we now have at the top.
Personal_Director441 on
Good, now can we include anyone not domiciled in the UK an add what ever loophole US Evangelical Christian groups use to give Reform (and other parties) money, charitable or some other dodge.
NiceFryingPan on
That’s the Tories and Reform UK f*cked then. There was an abundant amount of Russian money flowing in to the Conservative Party during Cameron’s to Sunak’s Premierships. As for Farage’s Ltd company, literally over 80% of the funding and support comes from foreign and outside interests. None of which wish the UK and British people good fortune.
What also seems to continually amaze is the simple fact that Farage and Reform are not a democratic political party. The membership have absolutely no voting and sway on policy and manifesto. Then again, it stands only for division, racism and hate.
Agreeable_Falcon1044 on
Good, this is also the end of reform. All their money comes from shady shadow companies linked to Russia, Iran and the extreme far right. Wetherspoons mick with his flag hanging won’t cover that.
BathFullOfDucks on
While I absolutely agree with the intent, it is a little after the horse has bolted when most large uk companies are now foreign owned, and all but the most core public services.
benrinnes on
How about banning donations from individuals/companies residing abroad?
lambdaburst on
inb4 they set up a small office in the UK and donate to farage anyway
milkonyourmustache on
The reason why common sense things like this rarely happen or are allowed to go on for so long is corruption.
39 Comments
From the Guardian:
“Tom Brake, the chief executive of Unlock Democracy, said the reforms passed “the Musk test” but said the government could go further – including a donations cap, saying there was “outsized influence of a handful of domestic mega-donors … An annual cap on donations from individuals and companies would begin to address public concern that politics can be bought.””
You are telling me that this is still possible and it up for debate?
Good. Ridiculous it’s taken so long. We should include banning donations from non uk residents too. Fuck all those Dyson types who left the UK so they don’t have to contribute taxes but think they can wield influence anyway.
Finally! I kept wondering when this government was going to start bullet proofing our democracy.
Donation cap is good but add banning of foreign interest lobbying of our politicians before, during and after their terms.
Unfortunately they can’t stop the online bots. I would also like to see privacy rights strengthened.
Long overdue. I’m hoping that the rule will apply to far-right limited companies too.
Good. We need to apply similar principles to UK companies. You can still be UK owned and receive “investment” from abroad and there are things they are looking at. Definitely a step in the right direction.
Non paywalled article:
https://www.archivebuttons.com/articles?article=https://www.ft.com/content/f4ed161d-156a-40d7-9e5f-12eda0a6ca09?segmentid=c50c86e4-586b-23ea-1ac1-7601c9c2476f
Step in the right direction, next we need to prohibit property purchase by non UK passport holders too.
This should have been done a long while ago and needs to go through ASAP.
Political donations should only be able to be made from those who are UK resident taxpayers, that goes for people and companies. The companies should be able to prove that they are not controlled by a non UK resident taxpayer or receiving funds from person/companies outside the UK by way of anything other than sales of goods and or services.
I’d then start considering similar rules for any company presenting “news”.
Rightly so. The fact this was ever allowed was a threat to democracy.
Musk must be prevented from straight up buying politicians.
Probably loads of loopholes but an excellent move by the government. Ensure any loophole is closed with the highest if crimes
Political donations from companies should be banned full stop. It should be uk residing real people only.
Brilliant news!
Long time coming and I look forward to this being extended to ALL non-uk nationals. That includes Ex-Pats and all private donations.
A cap on individuals donations should also be implimented.
Won’t they just redirect the money via British owned companies? Musk gives money to UK company. UK company gives money to Reform etc
Could they just set up a UK ltd or something and funnel money in through that?
Should also ban social media bots and foreign money in media generally. Because if foreign money cant support a party, it will just be used to drive misinformation instead.
Fully expect the Conservative dominated House of Lords is going to obstruct this.
Why should businesses be able to donate to politicians at all?
Excellent news, though I suspect some Farage fans may be a little upset by this.
political donations from ANY company is corruption and should be banned outright.
Donations from individuals should be limited to a maximum of £1000 in any given parliamentary term.
Political Action Committees should be illegal and funding from “think tanks” should also be illegal.
But, the politicians set the rules and get to be as corrupt as they want.
Now stop letting MPs take money & freebies from foreign governments
Desperately needed.
Conservatives and Reform would never bring this in
That should be extended to a ban on receiving anonymous crypto currency donations.
There should be no donations!
Each MP candidate should be given a fixed sum by the government to cover canvassing. All other donations should be banned!
Awesome. Now close the loophole where it can be funneled through a UK company that you only need £100 to incorporate.
So now all you have to do is offer a British backer of an idea a few gold mine deals via your embassy “diplomats” to support them?
Would this also extend to certain groups like friends of Israel
Another one of those “Should have been illegal 40 years ago things”.
I’m sure there’s no way around this /s
Ban lobbying altogether.
A good step, but a raindrop in the ocean compared to the massive influence of the foreigner-owned social media platforms.
The UK must regain control of its own political and cultural conversation from agenda-driven foreigners like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, who openly manipulate the platforms’ algorithms to privilege the voices they want heard and suppress the voices they want silenced.
We need heavy regulation of foreign-owned social media companies operating in the UK, starting with the assumption that no foreigner in a foreign country has a right to a voice in the UK — only a privilege, conditional on good behavior and alignment with British values of tolerance, respect, and good faith.
It’s an absolute no-brainer, so I’m sure we’ll leave a million loopholes so it can continue. Maybe I’ve grown too cynical, but this is a drop in the ocean compared to the corruption we now have at the top.
Good, now can we include anyone not domiciled in the UK an add what ever loophole US Evangelical Christian groups use to give Reform (and other parties) money, charitable or some other dodge.
That’s the Tories and Reform UK f*cked then. There was an abundant amount of Russian money flowing in to the Conservative Party during Cameron’s to Sunak’s Premierships. As for Farage’s Ltd company, literally over 80% of the funding and support comes from foreign and outside interests. None of which wish the UK and British people good fortune.
What also seems to continually amaze is the simple fact that Farage and Reform are not a democratic political party. The membership have absolutely no voting and sway on policy and manifesto. Then again, it stands only for division, racism and hate.
Good, this is also the end of reform. All their money comes from shady shadow companies linked to Russia, Iran and the extreme far right. Wetherspoons mick with his flag hanging won’t cover that.
While I absolutely agree with the intent, it is a little after the horse has bolted when most large uk companies are now foreign owned, and all but the most core public services.
How about banning donations from individuals/companies residing abroad?
inb4 they set up a small office in the UK and donate to farage anyway
The reason why common sense things like this rarely happen or are allowed to go on for so long is corruption.