The Government’s Dark Money Reforms Are Welcome, But Incomplete

The new elections strategy includes a suite of reforms that aim to close long-standing loopholes and bring much-needed transparency to campaign finance – many of which have been repeatedly recommended by Open Britain, Fair Vote UK, and other democracy groups for more than four years.

These proposals include:

✅ Introducing “Know Your Donor” rules – anti-money-laundering checks at the point of donation

✅ Closing loopholes that allow shell companies and unincorporated associations (UAs) to funnel secret funds

✅ Strengthening the Electoral Commission with greater enforcement powers and bigger fines

✅ Expanding digital imprints, requiring clear attribution on all campaign materials – both online and offline

It might not make the front pages – but these reforms are vital. For many working in the democracy space, they fall firmly in the “why on Earth didn’t we do this ten years ago?” category.

Still, better late than never.

The Reforms Don’t Pass the Musk Test

While these measures are a meaningful start, serious concerns remain. Even with the new safeguards, recent estimates suggest that a foreign billionaire like Elon Musk could still donate up to £54 million – legally – to a UK political party.

That raises a critical question:
Should political influence in Britain be for sale?
Should a company – or an individual – gain access to power simply because they do business here?

A Deeper Problem: The Billionaire Arms Race

The APPG for Fair Elections – which Open Britain proudly supports in Parliament – is clear: closing loopholes is necessary, but not enough.

The scale of political donations in the UK is spiralling. Each election cycle brings new fundraising records, but from a shrinking pool of ultra-wealthy donors.

This is not a healthy democracy. And it’s certainly not representative.

There’s a simple, powerful solution: a cap on total donations. One that levels the playing field, restores trust, and puts real power back in the hands of ordinary voters.

As APPG member Manuela Perteghella MP put it earlier this year:

“Let us give back control of British politics to our constituents – not to unaccountable tech billionaires or those who seek to buy influence. Let us renew our commitment to an open and fair democracy.”

A Once-in-a-Generation Opportunity

Britain hasn’t had a meaningful package of electoral reforms since the year 2000. This could be the moment to change that.

The government’s new proposals are welcome – and overdue. But if we stop here, we risk leaving the core problem untouched: a political system still wide open to outsized influence and silent money.

To build a truly fair democracy, we need bold action. And we need it now.