Last month, Transparency International UK (TI UK) issued a response to the Government’s recent announcement of an independent review into the impact of foreign financial influence and interference in domestic politics from Russia and other hostile states.
Rose Zussman, CEO of TI UK welcomed the government’s review into foreign interference in UK politics but argued that the risks are already clear and urgent action is needed. She warns that the lack of limits on political donations allows wealthy individuals and foreign-linked actors to buy influence, as parties increasingly rely on a small group of donors amid rising campaign costs. To protect democracy, TI UK calls on the government to introduce a cap on political donations through the upcoming elections bill, preventing any single donor from having disproportionate influence.
Full response available here: Transparency International response
Similarly, the Electoral Reform Society (ERS) recently published an article revealing that the British public supports donation caps to political parties. Between December 9th and 11th 2025, a survation poll, which interviewed over 1000 people online, found that 57% of people support the ‘introduction of a cap on the amount of money individuals or companies can donate to parties, while just 7% were against’.
Electoral Reform Society article available here.
Fair Vote strongly supports the introduction of a cap on donations to political parties. The current system allows individuals to donate unlimited sums, creating the risk that extreme wealth can be used to buy excessive political influence, which undermines democratic fairness and public trust. A donation cap would help to prevent any single donor - either domestic or foreign donors - from wielding disproportionate power in the UK political system.
The Elections Bill provides a clear and timely opportunity for the government to act. By introducing a cap on donations, alongside measures supported by organisations such as Transparency International and the Electoral Reform Society, the Government can deliver reform that protects the integrity of UK democracy and reflects strong public support for change.
