UK Politics

Keir Starmer’s Government has pledged to tackle loopholes in Britain’s political funding system, amid growing concerns over foreign interference in UK political parties.

MPs debated the “urgent need” to reform political finance rules on Thursday, as public trust in political parties remains at record lows.

The debate followed warnings from multiple independent bodies, including the Intelligence and Security Committee and the Committee on Standards in Public Life, about the dangers of unchecked political donations.

Political finance regulations have come under intense scrutiny in recent years — and are a national security issue given Russia’s intense disinformation and influencing campaigns to destabilise Western democracies.

It has also been given fresh urgency by suggestions that Donald Trump ally and the world’s richest man, Elon Musk, is considering giving up to $100m (around £80m) to Nigel Farage’s far-right Reform UK party.

Transparency International UK notes there is “widespread evidence” of opaque donations, foreign interference, and unchecked big money influencing elections.

Research from the non-profit campaign group revealed that nearly £1 in every £10 donated to political parties since 2013 comes from unknown or questionable sources.