UK government plans tighter residency rules and £100,000 cap for overseas political donors

The short version

• The UK government is proposing amendments to the Representation of the People Bill to restrict political donations from British voters living overseas.[BBC News]
• The proposed reforms include a £100,000 annual donation cap backdated to 25 March and stricter minimum UK residency requirements.[BBC News]
• The legislative push follows a dispute over £72m in donations made to Reform UK by two crypto-billionaires who recently resided abroad.[BBC News]
• The Representation of the People Bill has passed the House of Commons and is currently being scrutinised in the House of Lords.[BBC News]

Key facts

• The government proposed a £100,000 annual cap on donations from overseas voters, backdated to 25 March.[BBC News]
• Reform UK received £72m in donations from British crypto-billionaires Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne.[BBC News · The Guardian]
• Reform UK leader Nigel Farage stated the £72m in donations complied entirely with existing legislation.[BBC News]
• The House of Commons approved the government's amendments to the Representation of the People Bill, which is under scrutiny in the House of Lords.[BBC News]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.

• Political donors could face tougher residency rulesBBC News - Top Stories
• Labour holds No 10 drinks party for donors amid growing calls for donations capThe Guardian - World