Representation of the People Bill Delayed Until After Summer Recess to Let New Prime Minister Shape Final Text

The representation of the people bill was due to have its third reading in parliament on July 14 but has been delayed until after the summer recess, The Guardian reported. The postponement allows the incoming prime minister to shape the final legislation.

The bill proposes extending the franchise to 16- and 17-year-olds, introducing new voter registration rules, setting an annual £100,000 limit on donations from British citizens living abroad, and adding checks to prevent foreign actors from using UK shell companies for political donations.

The government has also imposed a temporary moratorium on political donations made in cryptocurrencies. The delay follows reporting on large donations to Reform, including £5 million from Christopher Harborne to Nigel Farage, £9 million from Harborne to the party in 2025, and more than £22 million from Harborne overall. Ben Delo and Nick Candy have also donated to Reform.

David Sainsbury donated £2 million to Labour in 2023. Steve Goodrich, head of research at Transparency International, said the share of private donations from companies and individuals giving £1 million or more rose from 1 percent in 2015 to over a third in 2024. He attributed the increase to an 80 percent hike in the election spending cap by the Conservative government in 2023.

Parties and candidates spent over £90 million on the 2024 general election. Goodrich stated there is currently no limit on donations from UK individuals or companies. Labour MPs Stella Creasy and Alex Sobel have proposed caps of £100,000 and £1 million respectively.

Under a £100,000 cap, Reform would have lost an estimated 85 percent of its registered donations in 2025. Australia, Italy, Belgium, and the Netherlands impose caps on political donations. Canada bans corporations and trade unions from donating and limits individual contributions to any party to $1,775 per year.