KICK BIG MONEY, FOREIGN OR DOMESTIC, OUT OF BRITISH POLITICS SAYS MANUELA PERTEGHELLA
Over the weekend, news broke that Reform UK have received two eye watering sums of £36 million from two crypto billionaires: Christopoher Harborne, also known as Chakrit Sakunkrit, and Ben Delo.
Commenting on this, Manuela said:
“Nigel Farage wants to bring Trump's America to our shores by buying his way into power. He's trying to get into Number 10 as if it's a stop on a monopoly board. It can't go on like this. Andy Burnham needs to introduce a cap on political donations, which I and fellow MPs have long called for.”
“I made a speech about political donations last week in Parliament, where I recommended rules that would apply to all political parties. I had no idea of the vast swathes of private cash being transferred to Reform at the time.
“Reform tout themselves as the anti-establishment party of the people, but they ARE the establishment, and I’m going to fight them all the way. Their agenda does not represent the best interests of ordinary people.
“I’ve got faith in the British public, that they will see this for what it is. Britons don’t like big money in their politics, and they will not be bought by big business.”
Manuela Perteghella speaking in the House of Commons on Wednesday 2 September in relation to political donation and finance:
“The Bill gives us a real chance to defend and strengthen our democracy, and although it is not in the scope of the Bill, I hope that the Government will look in future legislation at electoral reform and proportional representation.
“I have tabled new clauses 20 and 21 and supported many amendments because the Bill as it stands does not go far enough. New clause 21 enshrines in the Bill the principle of a cap on political donations.
“It is time to kick big money, foreign or domestic, out of British politics, and restore public trust in our political system. As I have said previously, the people of this country, not the deep pockets of billionaires - foreign or otherwise - or corporate interests, should decide our country’s future in elections and referendums. I welcome the Government amendment on donations from overseas electors, but at present there is no limit at all on how much a single individual in the UK can give to a political party. New clause 21 would require the Secretary of State to set an annual cap on political donations, informed by an independent review, so we can ensure that the cap is sustainable.”
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“On the integrity of political money, which is where I believe the Bill still has the most to tackle, the same logic that applies to new clause 21 applies with even more costs. The loopholes that currently let donations flow from foreign Administrations, from those linked to political violence and from undeclared foreign income and corporate interests, like those fossil fuel companies, have no place in our politics and I want them closed. I fully support closing the loophole currently exploited by non-permissible donors giving in small amounts, and I support tightening the rules on crypto asset donations, which are far too easy to hide. Parties should be required to carry out proper due diligence on where donations actually come from, and I support a proper independent look at spending limits.”