The Representation of the People Bill passed its third reading and report stage last night and now moves on to the House of Lords. As we have acknowledged throughout its passing through the Lower House, the Bill contains much that is good, useful and an improvement on what has gone before – most significantly in extending the franchise to 16 and 17 year olds and automatic voter registration. Measures around donations are welcome including enhanced know-your-donor checks, caps for overseas donors and a moratorium on cryptocurrency donations are welcome but quite simply don’t go far enough to protect the ship of democracy from the iceberg looming in front of us.

This iceberg – the potential for our democracy to be sold to the highest bidder – is looming stark and bold in front of us. We cannot say we can only see its tip. It is not hiding in the mists. It is clear, sharp and frightening with mega donors such as Thai cryptocurrency billionaire Christopher Harborne contributing millions to the Reform party and other donors such as Ben Delo planning to return to the UK to circumvent the overseas donor limits. No-one believes that their donations are for the good of the British people with no quid pro quo required in return.

Despite the clear demand from the public – thousands of postcards were sent to MPs in our #politicnotforsale campaign as well as hundreds of thousands more voices heard in emails sent and petitions signed – and the parade of MPs who stood up during the debate yesterday to emphasise their support for a cap on UK donations, MP Stella Creasy was persuaded to withdraw her amendment for an initial cap of £500,000 on all donations, decreasing to £100,000 before the next election.

Minister for Democracy Florence Eshalomi announced, instead, that a cross-government taskforce is to be set up ‘working at pace’ to examine the issue of mega-donors and to provide solutions ‘as soon as possible.’ Should this live up to its billing, we welcome the Government’s commitment and hope that Burnham’s Government find a way to future-proof UK democracy from malign actors. However, given the current lack of information on the taskforce’s make-up, schedule and remit, we remain concerned and urge the Government and the Democracy Minister to take advantage of the years of experience and expertise available in civil society and the campaigning organisations within the Resilient Democracy network to ensure that the taskforce does not become a holding exercise but provides real substantive change.

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