UK further tightens rules on foreign political donations
The UK tightened regulations on foreign political donations on Monday, aiming to prevent foreign funds from influencing elections and also responding to concerns over "questionable funding" linked to the country's Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Reed.
Previously, a former politician from the far-right Reform Party in the UK was jailed for accepting bribes, making pro-Russia statements, and expressing support for Russia. This incident prompted the UK government last year to launch an inquiry into foreign financial influence on its politics.
Meanwhile, Farage, leader of the anti-immigration Reform Party, is under investigation by the parliamentary standards watchdog over whether he should have declared a £5 million donation from a Thai cryptocurrency billionaire—received before he announced his candidacy for a seat in the UK Parliament.
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities announced on Monday that political candidates must now disclose any donations exceeding £2,230 received prior to becoming candidates and prove that such pre-candidacy funds came from legitimate sources.
These stricter rules also mean individuals who have moved to the UK from abroad must have lived permanently in the country for at least one year before being allowed to make political donations of £100,000 or more; for corporate donations, the assessment criteria will shift from revenue to past post-tax profits, ensuring only companies with genuine links to the UK can contribute.
These measures build upon actions announced in March, which included setting an annual donation cap of £100,000 for British citizens living overseas and banning donations in cryptocurrency until a robust regulatory framework is established.
Under Farage’s leadership, the Reform Party has led national polls for over a year. According to data from the UK Electoral Commission, cryptocurrency investor Habburn provided approximately two-thirds of the party’s funding last year. The party claims Habburn’s contributions to Farage did not breach any rules.
On Sunday, Farage was referred to the parliamentary body responsible for overseeing conduct standards, following reports that he had failed to declare other interests.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1869967532067840/
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