UK Cracks Down on Foreign Political Interference: Landmark Bill Bans Overseas Donations and Strengthens Election Security

Cracking Down on Foreign Interference

The Representation of the People Bill introduces strict new rules to prevent foreign actors from influencing UK elections through political donations. The measures are a direct response to recent cases of foreign interference, including attempts by individuals linked to the Chinese Communist Party and other hostile states.

• Stricter Donation Rules: Companies making political donations must now prove a genuine UK connection, including being headquartered in the UK, majority-owned by UK electors, and having sufficient UK-generated revenue to cover the donation.
• "Know Your Donor" Guidance: Political parties and candidates must verify the source of donations, closing loopholes that allowed shell companies to funnel foreign money into UK politics.
• Electoral Commission Powers: The bill strengthens enforcement, allowing the Electoral Commission to impose fines up to £500,000 for breaches of political finance rules.

Expanding Democratic Participation

The bill delivers on a key manifesto commitment by extending voting rights to 16- and 17-year-olds, bringing UK elections in line with Scotland and Wales. This change will empower 1.7 million young people to participate in democracy.

• Votes at 16: Research shows that lowering the voting age increases youth engagement and turnout, fostering a lifelong habit of participation.
• Democratic Education: The government will expand citizenship education in schools, ensuring young people understand voting, misinformation, and democratic processes from an early age.

Protecting Candidates and Voters

The bill includes measures to tackle intimidation and harassment of candidates, campaigners, and electoral staff, which has risen sharply in recent years, particularly against women and minority ethnic representatives.

• Tougher Sentences: Courts will have the power to impose harsher penalties for electoral intimidation.
• Privacy Protections: Candidates acting as their own election agents will no longer be required to publish their home address, reducing risks of harassment.

Modernizing Voting Access

To remove barriers to voting, the government will pilot flexible voting options in the May 2026 local elections, including polling stations in supermarkets and train stations. These trials aim to increase turnout by making voting more convenient.

• Flexible Voting: The pilots will test new locations and methods to assess their impact on voter accessibility and participation.
• Postal Voting Reforms: The bill also addresses issues with postal voting, ensuring the system is more reliable and user-friendly.

Broader Democratic Reforms

The bill is part of the government’s Strategy for Modern and Secure Elections, which includes:

• Combating Misinformation: New curriculum changes will teach children to identify misinformation and disinformation from a young age.
• Digital Innovation: The government will explore new technologies to improve voter registration and reduce the 7-8 million eligible but unregistered voters.
• Counter Political Interference Plan: The bill complements a new action plan to disrupt and deter foreign espionage, led by the Security Minister and MI5.