Government May Impose Cap on Donations Despite Rejecting Amendment

Angela Rayner has suggested that the government may still impose a cap on political donations despite rejecting an amendment to the Representation of the People Bill. The bill would have capped donations from a single source at £100,000 per year.

The government's decision to reject the amendment follows twin £36 million donations from Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne, two crypto-billionaires who back Reform UK. These donations reignited calls for a cap on donations, which Andy Burnham had previously supported.

Rayner stated that the government's concerns about 'loopholes' led to their decision not to accept the amendment at first glance. However, she hinted that ministers could still introduce a cap, saying it was 'not as simple as we're saying we won't put a cap.'

The new rules on overseas donations, proposed by Philip Rycroft's review, will be back-dated to cover gifts since March and limit donations from overseas electors to £100,000 per year. This means that Reform UK may have to return the £72 million donation if it doesn't comply with the new rules.

Reform's economic spokesman Robert Jenrick disputed this claim, stating that their party believes the donations are 'entirely in line with the law as it is' and will not have to be returned. Nigel Farage has planned to use the £72 million to fund research and recruit experts for government preparation.

Some critics, such as Tom Tugendhat, downplayed the impact of the money and suggested that it was 'an illusion that people can buy their way into public office.'