Anni has worked across commercial, political and not for profit sectors in her 25 years as a public relations consultant. Her client list has included such diverse organisations as a radiator manufacturer, local council, science start-ups and even a synchronised swimming team.
Most recently she has been focused on the campaigning sector. As Campaign Manager for the Equal Civil Partnerships Campaign she is part of the team who succeeded in introducing mixed-sex civil partnerships in England and Wales at the end of 2019.
Restoring Trust In Our Democracy: Resilient Democracy Network Response
Today, the 17th July 2025, the Government have published the awaited policy paper on the upcoming Elections Bill.
Restoring trust in our democracy: Our strategy for modern and secure elections includes plans for the voting age to be lowered to 16, automatic voter registration and better citizen education, all of which have been campaigned for by Radix Big Tent and our partners in the Resilient Democracy Network. It also includes strengthened rules around political donations as we have also campaigned for but does not yet go far enough in preventing overseas donations or a cap on individual donations.
Here, we collate responses from the Resilient Democracy organisations and individuals.
Radix Big Tent
Unlock Democracy
Commenting on the government’s elections strategy, published today, Shaun Roberts, Director of Campaigns at Unlock Democracy, said:
“Today shows ministers have listened, and while there is more still to do to strengthen and secure our democracy, the government’s elections strategy is a strong platform on which to build.
“Votes at 16 is long overdue and we are delighted to see the government bringing this forward. The evidence from Scotland, where 16 and 17-year olds have had the vote since 2014, is that young people engage strongly with democracy and, when they start voting early, they keep on voting as they get older.That can only boost our democracy.
“To ensure votes at 16 reaches its potential, it’s pleasing to see the government set out plans to close the voter registration gap by moving towards automated registration. The current system is inefficient and outdated, leaving millions of young people across England and Wales not properly registered to vote. Automatic voter registration is a tried-and-tested solution that would help to guarantee that everyone who wants to vote can do so. We look forward to working with ministers to help the government realise that ambition.
“We also welcome the government’s move to further extend the range of accepted voter IDs. While it won’t resolve the problems caused by voter ID requirements entirely, it will mitigate some of them.
“There are some areas where we think the government could have shown greater ambition.
“Tightening the rules on unincorporated associations, and banning the use of shell companies for political donations, will help to stop foreign money seeping into UK politics.
“But the government’s proposed changes to donation rules don’t pass ‘the Musk test’, in that they would still allow foreign business owners to make big money donations, providing they have ‘sufficient’ income generated in the UK. The public already thinks rich donors massively shape what parties and politicians do and say. Labour’s unwillingness to consider capping donations will leave millions of voters still wondering, ‘who’s pulling their strings?’
“When the last government took away the Electoral Commission’s independence, Labour loudly condemned it.Labour’s silence now [on Electoral Commission independence] is deeply concerning.
“A truly independent elections watchdog is important for giving voters confidence that our elections are free and fair. Restoring this status would be the simplest change imaginable - it’s alarming that Labour seems not to be planning to do so.
“The strategy also fails to address the elephant in the room - our First Past the Post electoral system doesn’t work for the multi-party politics we have today.“
Transparency International
Transparency International UK has welcomed today’s announcement of strengthened controls to prevent foreign donations but warns bolder reforms are needed to address corrosive effects of big money in politics.
Today’s statement is an important recognition by the government that the systems governing our elections require urgent reform. However, as they stand, bolder action is needed to address the rising threat of the mega-rich buying political influence.
Measures against foreign interference including stronger controls on company donations and unincorporated associations, increased sanctioning powers for the Electoral Commission and new checks on donors are welcome and necessary but insufficient to safeguard our democracy. The elephant in the room remains untouched – a growing arms race in election spending that is fuelling political parties' dangerous dependence on a handful of billionaire backers.
With 66% of private political donations in 2023 coming from just 19 mega donors political access, influence and honours risk being sold to the highest bidder.
The announcement comes as the Electoral Commission today confirmed that spending at the 2024 UK general election reached a record high of £92 million - £25 million higher than in 2019 (a 38% increase).
Changes to the law in 2022, which allow inappropriate government interference in the Electoral Commission as an independent regulator and undermine its ability to enforce the rules, also remain in place.
Duncan Hames, Director of Policy, Transparency International UK said:
“It’s good to see the Government address the vulnerabilities we have identified to the threat of foreign interference in our politics. However, these proposals duck the wider issue of political parties’ growing reliance on a small number of ultra-wealthy donors and the corrupting influence of big money in our politics.”
Around the world, democracies face growing threats from hostile foreign states and billionaire influence. While other countries like Australia have responded with meaningful reforms introducing donation caps of $50,000 for federal elections, Britain lags behind, leaving our democracy vulnerable.
“From Europe to the US, free and fair elections are under a growing assault from hostile foreign states and the spending power of billionaires,” Hames warned “The government should use their Elections and Democracy Bill to meet this challenge before it’s too late. “
Transparency International UK is calling on the government to take action to strengthen its proposals by:
End the influence of big money on UK politics with limits on individual donations and reduced spending limits for political parties
Increase the transparency of donations in our politics by reducing the reporting thresholds.
Restore the independence of the Electoral Commission, to future-proof the integrity of elections.
Today’s announcement comes on the anniversary of Labour’s first King’s Speech in which Prime Minister Keir Starmer declared that "the fight for trust is the battle that defines our political era" and committed his government to sweeping reforms to restore public trust in politics
Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust
Thanks to the excellent work of campaigners, including many JRRT and UK Democracy Fund grantees, we see some really positive steps towards renewing our democracy.
A significant expansion of Voter ID to include bank cards and digital forms of ID, which is likely to be impactful, particularly for newly enfranchised young voters.
And recognition of the importance of a more automated system for voter registration, with plans to better use existing Government data for the ease of the voter, and a commitment to “work to create an automated registration system” over the coming years. The timeline and type of automated system is as yet unclear. The Fund has worked with experts to produce guidance on what effective Automatic Voter Registration could look like in the UK. It is important that steps are taken to ensure that this happens in time for the next General Election (expected 2028 or 2029) to urgently help reverse our declining participation rates.
Other areas of progress include technical changes to the timetable for elections, to make it easier for people to vote, an enhanced role for the Electoral Commission in encouraging voter participation, and measures to rationalise the complex legislation on election offences, making it easier to understand, fairer to apply.
In some areas, there has been progress though less than campaigners hoped for
Rules around campaign finance will be tightened, such as reporting thresholds for Unincorporated Associations and permissibility checks for their donors. Rules on company donations will also be tightened. The substantial increase in possible fines for serious breaches is also welcome. However, there is still no sign of a donations cap.
Another outstanding issue is the independence of the Electoral Commission, as the strategy and policy statement introduced in the last Elections Bill is so far to remain in place. Chair of the Electoral Commission John Pullinger said “The independence and impartiality of an electoral commission must be clear for voters and campaigners to see, and this form of influence from a government is inconsistent with that role. This bill offers a timely opportunity to repeal the power for government to designate a statement.”
Together, this announcement represents a very welcome step forward.
However, is also clear that work remains to be done to ensure we achieve the government’s ambition to “bequeath a democracy more robust and relevant to the next generation.”
The Grieve Commission
It is welcome that the government is seeking higher standards and more rigour around our election processes. It is encouraging that the Commission’s proposals around fine levels and unincorporated associations are being taken up.
However, more needs to be done to underpin the independence and status of the Electoral Commission. Moreover, given that, historically, the prosecution of electoral offences has been poor, further thought needs to be given to increasing both the investigative powers of the Electoral Commission and the effectiveness of the prosecution process. Our election laws need to be capable of being effectively enforced.
There is much to be done to translate this statement into effective legislation; but the direction of protecting the UK’s electoral processes and, consequently, democratic standards is welcome
Compassion in Politics
Compassion in Politics, welcomes today’s confirmation, in the government’s policy paper on the upcoming Elections Bill, that 16 and 17 year olds will be given the right to vote.
We also welcome the commitment to introduce automatic voter registration. In a recent survey of our membership over 80% favoured the Government introducing AVR alongside votes for 16 and 17 year olds.
However, despite the government ’s clear acknowledgement that ‘lying’ is an issue, it does not include a measure to tackle deliberate deception by candidates and elected officials.
We have seen how the lack of safeguards to prevent deception by candidates and elected leaders has played out in the USA. We are also living with the economic and social consequences of the lies that were told during the Brexit Campaign.
We call on the Government to include a measure, similar to that being introduced in Wales, to address political deception by candidates and elected officials alongside its other welcome commitments. Our polling with Opinium shows that 72% of the public support such a move along with a growing number of MPs. More details about how such a measure would work can be found here.
We also support calls a cap on how much political parties can spend on to prevent the spending arms race that we have seen undermine the democratic process in the United States.
Rate this post
Leave a comment
Please login or register to leave a comment on this post.
