MPs urged to cap political donations at £100,000 per year
7 reported
Labour MP Stella Creasy has called on fellow MPs to support an amendment limiting all single political donations in a calendar year to £100,000, arguing that current rules allow wealthy individuals to dominate British democracy. Writing in The Guardian, Creasy noted that the share of private political donations from individuals and companies giving £1m or more surged from 1% in 2015 to 35% in 2024, according to Transparency International research. She referenced the government-commissioned Rycroft review, which proposed a £100,000 cap on donations from overseas actors and a minimum one-year UK residency exemption, but warned that wealthy donors could circumvent such rules by acquiring UK addresses. Creasy pointed to crypto-billionaire Christopher Harborne, a donor to Nigel Farage based in Thailand, who reportedly registered a Hampshire address after the review’s proposals. The representation of the people bill returns to the Commons next Tuesday, and Creasy’s amendment would apply the £100,000 cap to all single donations regardless of the donor’s location. She argued that other jurisdictions, including France, Italy, Australia and the US, already limit individual donations. Creasy emphasized that the amendment would differentiate between individual mega-donors and trade unions or civil-society organisations, which she described as having transparent political funds.
What’s reported
The share of private political donations from individuals and companies giving £1m or more rose from 1% in 2015 to 35% in 2024, per Transparency International.
83% of the British public think the wealthy are trying to buy influence, according to the article.
The government commissioned the Rycroft review into foreign financial influence, which called for a £100,000 cap on donations from overseas actors and a minimum one-year UK residency exemption.
Christopher Harborne, a crypto-billionaire donor to Nigel Farage based in Thailand, reportedly registered a Hampshire address after the Rycroft proposals.
Creasy’s amendment would limit all single donations in a calendar year to £100,000, regardless of the donor’s location.
The representation of the people bill returns to the Commons next Tuesday.
Other jurisdictions that limit individual donations include France, Italy, Australia and the US.
Key figures
Stella Creasy, Labour and Co-operative MP for Walthamstow
Nigel Farage, referenced as facing questions about donations
Christopher Harborne, crypto-billionaire donor to Farage based in Thailand
Bernie Ecclestone, Mohamed Amersi, Paul Marshall, Lubov Chernukhin, referenced as past donor controversies
Sources: The Guardian
