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Wednesday briefing: Do MPs have the will to stop mega-donors interfering in UK politics?
Stella Creasy is one of the MPs who wants to see a cap on political donations to UK parties. Photograph: House of Commons View image in fullscreen Stella Creasy is one of the MPs who wants to see a cap on political donations to UK parties. Photograph: House of Commons Wednesday briefing: Do MPs have the will to stop mega-donors interfering in UK politics? In today’s newsletter: The representation of the people bill has become a test of whether Britain can curb the surge in billionaire‑backed donations trying to influence how we run the country Good morning. I’m Hettie O’Brien, and I’ll be arriving in your inbox regularly from today, rounding out the First Edition team alongside Libby and Michael. I’ve spent much of my time at the Guardian writing about who is pulling the strings in Britain: I enjoy illuminating knotty subjects for our readers, exposing how power works, and helping to make sense of the stories defining our world. I’d love to hear what you think – just reply to this email – we want you to play a part in shaping First Edition. But go easy, it’s my first day. This morning I’ll be looking at a new law that could dramatically change Britain’s political landscape. The representation of the people bill – supposedly one of Keir Starmer’s final acts as prime minister – contains numerous proposals, including the extension of the franchise to 16 and 17-year-olds and new rules on voter registration. But thanks to the ongoing questions raised by the Guardian’s reporting into Nigel Farage’s finances , particularly the £5m donation he received from the Thailand-based cryptocurrency billionaire Christopher Harborne (a gift that Farage insists was “personal”, not political), one aspect of the bill has become potentially explosive: the role that big money plays in British politics. And perhaps that is why the soon to be prime minister, Andy Burnham , hit pause on the bill that was due to be debated yesterday, to allow for his new administration to shape what is ultimately passed into law. Given that delay – and the fact I’m sure our new PM is a loyal reader – I spoke to Steve Goodrich , head of research at Transparency International, about how the rise of mega-donations is undermining democracy, and what Burnham should do about it. That’s after the headlines. Five big stories UK news | The police investigation into the death of Ann Widdecombe is examining whether a leftwing or single-issue cause may lie behind her killing , the Guardian has learned. Middle East | Donald Trump has threatened to expand US strikes on Iran next week to target power plants and bridges if Tehran does not agree to a deal amid a continuing dispute over the strait of Hormuz. UK politics | Boris Johnson’s government wasted £10bn of public money because of the way it went about buying PPE during the coronavirus pandemic, an official inquiry has concluded. Europe news | A spokesperson for the EU has pushed back against the Trump administration’s assertion that the internati
