>While parties are banned from taking money from overseas states, critics argue that the rules designed to prohibit foreign donations under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (PPERA) are riddled with loopholes allowing money to be channelled to parties and MPs.
>Wednesday’s amendment would have required British parties to publish and keep updated a policy statement to ensure the identification of donations from foreign powers, whether made directly or through an intermediary, and provide an annual statement of risk management to the Electoral Commission.
>The amendment was sponsored by three members of the House of Lords including the former director general of MI5, Jonathan Evans.
>Julian Lewis, the Conservative chair of parliament’s intelligence and security committee, said he firmly supported the proposed clause, warning MPs on Wednesday that the UK has previously “clearly welcomed Russian money, including in the political sphere”.
>The Lords amendment was voted down by 254 votes to 134 – a majority of 120. Lewis was the only Conservative MP who voted against the government to keep the amendment in.
Government confirms that they are under the influence of foreign donations.
They have lost Russian money already, they do not want to lose anymore money and influence right now.
> The security minister, Tom Tugendhat, said the national security bill was “now in a strong position” and had “effective tools and powers to tackle hostile activity taken on British soil”.
> The Lords amendment in relation to political donations “is not needed”, he said, adding: “The law already makes robust provision in relation to donations to political parties.
> “Foreign donations are banned, it is an offence to accept them and there are strong rules safeguarding against impermissible donations via the back door. Parties can only accept donations from permissible donors, as such the government will not accept this amendment.”
What do mean “not needed”, Tom? Is there any downside to this amenment? If the laws are robust, great, make am more robust.
Also, we all know how strong and stable for the conservative party looks like. I wouldn’t trust this a minute.
Yep, MP’s want the money, just want the deniability that comes from not looking too closely at where it’s come from.
It’s an unfortunately unsurprising story, they don’t want to be caught accepting money from foreign interests too blatantly, but if they can say it came from x, so it was clean, they’re happy with that.
Even if a brief search by a journalist, for example, reveals that x was created by y, who received the money from z, who happens to be a Russian businessman in Putins pocket.
I think I’ve found Labour’s next attack add …
How can this lot seriously not see the damage they are doing to themselves?
Corrupt government rejects attempt to curb corruption
Absolute clowns & scumbags. I don’t think Keith will undo this from power either. They’re such a shoddy class of people.
So another absolutely open goal for labour ads that they’ll completely squander.
And there was me thinking all these Brexit lovers were all about taking back sovereignty…
We don’t need laws, we can trust ourselves on where we take money from…don’t look at our Russian donations and the influence exerted over several ministers including a former pm…
Real headline. Corruption set to continue under current government.
There’s no good reason to allow foreign businessmen to be able to buy politicians in the UK.
They aren’t even bothering to hide their corruption.
Can anyone play devils advocate and give some reasoning for this? It obviously looks, sounds and smells bad.
Whilst I didn’t always agree with the policies of MPs in the past, it at least seemed like they cared about the country in their own way.
Now it seems like more and more Politicians will act in ways extremely damaging for the future of our country and people, just as long as they get their dirty money. The foreign influence is a big factor, especially when it’s from hostile nations like Russia that actively want to create harm and division. It’s disgusting.
“Party that is massively funded by dodgy cash refuses to close loop holes that allow them to accept dodgy cash.”
I’d like to say I was surprised by this child like level of hiding activity…
Here’s an idea
Why not make it so all donations go into a common pot and are spilt depending on party’s membership and last vote count
Fucking traitors.
​
There were many thing wrong in the 1950s, but this would have ended in court and imprisonment of the mps back then
As they are playing by the GOP playbook I imagine they don’t want anyone touching their dodgy US money.
Of course they are. Anything to save Rishi’s wife from paying taxes or declaring interests.
This just shows the continuing hollowing out of standards. It started with a crooked Boris, lying about everything. Liz crashed the economy. But the entire government is a complete kleptocracy. A Deputy PM who bullies. A racist Home secretary. A Chancellor who hands out tax relief for the super rich.
It is clear: the Tories are becoming more and more like UKIP, as right-wing extremism works it way up to the top. Reminds me of a quote: “If a lie is just big enough, they will believe it.” I won’t say who said it, you’ll have to find out yourself.
Does Russia even have the change to spare atm? That goody-bag foam airplane and firecracker they launched at their own building seems to prove not LOL.
Corruption is one thing, but surely taking bribes from hostile states is treason?
Make the most of it shitters, you have a year left.
For Fuck’s sake! Fucking Jesus Fucking Shit! WHY???? WHY ARE WE STILL FUCKING DOING THIS?
24 comments
Excerpt:^1
>While parties are banned from taking money from overseas states, critics argue that the rules designed to prohibit foreign donations under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (PPERA) are riddled with loopholes allowing money to be channelled to parties and MPs.
>Wednesday’s amendment would have required British parties to publish and keep updated a policy statement to ensure the identification of donations from foreign powers, whether made directly or through an intermediary, and provide an annual statement of risk management to the Electoral Commission.
>The amendment was sponsored by three members of the House of Lords including the former director general of MI5, Jonathan Evans.
>Julian Lewis, the Conservative chair of parliament’s intelligence and security committee, said he firmly supported the proposed clause, warning MPs on Wednesday that the UK has previously “clearly welcomed Russian money, including in the political sphere”.
>The Lords amendment was voted down by 254 votes to 134 – a majority of 120. Lewis was the only Conservative MP who voted against the government to keep the amendment in.
^1 Ben Quinn (3 May 2023), “Government defeats move to tighten UK foreign donations law”, https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/may/03/government-defeats-move-to-tighten-uk-foreign-donations-law
Alternative headline:
Government confirms that they are under the influence of foreign donations.
They have lost Russian money already, they do not want to lose anymore money and influence right now.
> The security minister, Tom Tugendhat, said the national security bill was “now in a strong position” and had “effective tools and powers to tackle hostile activity taken on British soil”.
> The Lords amendment in relation to political donations “is not needed”, he said, adding: “The law already makes robust provision in relation to donations to political parties.
> “Foreign donations are banned, it is an offence to accept them and there are strong rules safeguarding against impermissible donations via the back door. Parties can only accept donations from permissible donors, as such the government will not accept this amendment.”
What do mean “not needed”, Tom? Is there any downside to this amenment? If the laws are robust, great, make am more robust.
Also, we all know how strong and stable for the conservative party looks like. I wouldn’t trust this a minute.
Yep, MP’s want the money, just want the deniability that comes from not looking too closely at where it’s come from.
It’s an unfortunately unsurprising story, they don’t want to be caught accepting money from foreign interests too blatantly, but if they can say it came from x, so it was clean, they’re happy with that.
Even if a brief search by a journalist, for example, reveals that x was created by y, who received the money from z, who happens to be a Russian businessman in Putins pocket.
I think I’ve found Labour’s next attack add …
How can this lot seriously not see the damage they are doing to themselves?
Corrupt government rejects attempt to curb corruption
Absolute clowns & scumbags. I don’t think Keith will undo this from power either. They’re such a shoddy class of people.
So another absolutely open goal for labour ads that they’ll completely squander.
And there was me thinking all these Brexit lovers were all about taking back sovereignty…
We don’t need laws, we can trust ourselves on where we take money from…don’t look at our Russian donations and the influence exerted over several ministers including a former pm…
Real headline. Corruption set to continue under current government.
There’s no good reason to allow foreign businessmen to be able to buy politicians in the UK.
They aren’t even bothering to hide their corruption.
Can anyone play devils advocate and give some reasoning for this? It obviously looks, sounds and smells bad.
Whilst I didn’t always agree with the policies of MPs in the past, it at least seemed like they cared about the country in their own way.
Now it seems like more and more Politicians will act in ways extremely damaging for the future of our country and people, just as long as they get their dirty money. The foreign influence is a big factor, especially when it’s from hostile nations like Russia that actively want to create harm and division. It’s disgusting.
“Party that is massively funded by dodgy cash refuses to close loop holes that allow them to accept dodgy cash.”
I’d like to say I was surprised by this child like level of hiding activity…
Here’s an idea
Why not make it so all donations go into a common pot and are spilt depending on party’s membership and last vote count
Fucking traitors.
​
There were many thing wrong in the 1950s, but this would have ended in court and imprisonment of the mps back then
As they are playing by the GOP playbook I imagine they don’t want anyone touching their dodgy US money.
Of course they are. Anything to save Rishi’s wife from paying taxes or declaring interests.
This just shows the continuing hollowing out of standards. It started with a crooked Boris, lying about everything. Liz crashed the economy. But the entire government is a complete kleptocracy. A Deputy PM who bullies. A racist Home secretary. A Chancellor who hands out tax relief for the super rich.
It is clear: the Tories are becoming more and more like UKIP, as right-wing extremism works it way up to the top. Reminds me of a quote: “If a lie is just big enough, they will believe it.” I won’t say who said it, you’ll have to find out yourself.
Does Russia even have the change to spare atm? That goody-bag foam airplane and firecracker they launched at their own building seems to prove not LOL.
Corruption is one thing, but surely taking bribes from hostile states is treason?
Make the most of it shitters, you have a year left.
For Fuck’s sake! Fucking Jesus Fucking Shit! WHY???? WHY ARE WE STILL FUCKING DOING THIS?