Overseas voters moving to UK could face £100,000 donations cap for a year

Overseas voters relocating to the United Kingdom may soon face a restriction of £100,000 on political donations for the first year after their arrival. This proposed limit is part of new government measures designed to curb foreign influence in UK elections.

Ministers announced the planned restriction alongside enhanced scrutiny of company donations. The government aims to ensure that only legitimate UK-linked businesses can contribute financially to political campaigns. Previously, a £100,000 annual cap was announced for donations from British citizens residing abroad, effective from March 25.

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British democracy is not for sale.

The new proposal seeks to require individuals to establish residency in the UK for a minimum period before their donations can exceed this £100,000 limit. This change could significantly impact major donors to parties like Reform UK. Notably, British billionaires Christopher Harborne and Ben Delo, who have collectively donated millions to Reform UK, could be affected.

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These tough new rules will shut down dodgy funding, stop foreign money influencing our elections and keep our democracy strong.

Harborne, a Thailand-based businessman, made a single donation of £9 million to Reform UK last year, the largest single donation by a living person to a UK political party. Delo, another crypto billionaire, donated £4 million between January and March. Both individuals have expressed intentions to move back to Britain, potentially falling under the new cap for a year upon their return.

Additional proposed changes include assessing political donations from companies based on their post-tax profits over the previous five years, rather than solely on revenue. Candidates will also need to prove the legitimacy of any funding received before officially becoming a candidate, declaring donations above £2,230 made prior to their candidacy. Communities Secretary Steve Reed stated, "British democracy is not for sale." These proposals are set to be introduced as amendments to the Representation of the People Bill.

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By holding overseas donors to tougher standards and requiring candidates to prove where their funding comes from, we are taking world-leading action to protect the integrity of our elections and tackle the threats we face from abroad.