Democracy Minister Resigns After Government Keeps Moratorium on Crypto Donations and Delays Elections Bill for Hillsborough Law

Rushanara Ali resigned as democracy minister in August 2025 and later said the government had been timid and incremental in drafting its elections bill. The Guardian reported that Ali urged incoming prime minister Andy Burnham to address gaps in voting reform, cryptocurrency donations and social media regulation.

Ali stated that she would have made the bill much more comprehensive if given the chance.

She said she had worked within an incremental approach that was timid and limited, and wanted stronger provisions on harassment, intimidation, online hostility and hatred. The representation of the people bill was delayed this week to allow parliamentary time for the Hillsborough law. Ministers later postponed the next stage until after the summer recess.

Ali is among dozens of Labour MPs calling for a national commission on voting reform and backing a full ban on cryptocurrency donations instead of the current moratorium. Ali said she could not understand the choice of a moratorium over a ban. She added that the moratorium leaves the door open for further interference in democracy through illegitimate donations.

Reform UK received millions of pounds in undisclosed gifts from crypto entrepreneurs, according to the reporting. Ali also called for action on deepfake and disinformation risks. She said that without stronger rules, major influences with hundreds of millions of followers peddling far-right hostility would infect politics.

Lucy Powell has tabled an amendment that would apply to social media companies the same restrictions that apply to broadcasters in the run-up to an election.