Representation of the People Bill 2024-26
The bill’s proposals include lowering the voting age to 16 for all elections, allowing for automated electoral registration and making changes to political donations rules.
What impact do digital imprints have on voters?
Election campaign material produced by political parties, candidates and non-party campaigners must carry an ‘imprint’ on both digital and printed material. The Representation of the People Bill includes some reforms to the current digital imprints regime.
What ‘know-your-donor’ requirements do political parties have to conduct?
In the Representation of the People Bill the Labour government has committed to enacting enhanced know-your-donor checks to be conducted on political donations.
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Research Briefing
Company donations in UK politics
There are concerns that company donations are a means by which foreign money can enter UK politics. Reforms have been included in the Representation of the People Bill to address this.
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Research Briefing
Cryptocurrency donations in UK politics
On 25 March 2026 the Rycroft Review recommended that a moratorium be placed on political donations made in cryptoassets. In a statement following the release of the review, the Government announced that they would bring forward an amendment to the Representation of the People Bill which would do this.
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Research Briefing
What is an unincorporated association?
An unincorporated association is a permissible donor in UK politics and is usually a members club. The Labour Party have proposed tightening the rules around their donations in the upcoming elections bill.
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Insight
What are the effects of political financing?
The effects of money on politics are contested. However, academics generally agree that money affects the chances of electoral success.
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Research Briefing
Political financing: Donations, loans and state funding
‘Political financing’ refers to all money that is raised and spent for political purposes.
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Insight
Non-party spending in the 2024 general election
Non-party (third-party) spending in the 2024 general election was lower than in the 2019 general election. Most spending was on third-party campaign material.
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Insight
Party spending in the 2024 general election
Political parties spent more in the 2024 general election than in the 2019 general election. Most spending was on advertising and unsolicited material.
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Insight
Candidate spending in the 2024 general election
Candidate spending was higher in the 2024 general election than in the 2019 general election. Candidate spending is regulated differently to party spending.
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Research Briefing
Lobbying in UK politics
Lobbying is when an individual or group tries to persuade someone in Parliament to support a particular policy or campaign.
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Research Briefing
The Electoral Commission
The Electoral Commission oversees UK elections and political finance. Public approval of the commission is high, but reviews have proposed potential reforms.
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Insight
Foreign political donations in the UK
Foreign political donations are banned in the UK, but it is possible for foreign money to enter UK politics. The government has said it will review donation rules.