STORY
The Government has announced tougher rules on political donations after warnings that foreign money could be used to influence UK elections. The package is intended to strengthen checks on who can fund political parties, candidates and campaigners, and to close loopholes around donations from people with overseas links.
Ministers said people who have recently moved to the UK will face a timebound cap on large political donations, meaning they will need to have been permanently based in the country for a minimum period before giving more than the cap. Candidates will also be required to prove that campaign funding comes from legitimate sources.
The reforms will also change how company donations are assessed, with checks based on profits rather than revenue. The Government said this would help ensure that only legitimate UK-linked businesses can make political donations and that the wider package was designed to protect democratic integrity.