2 private donations of £36m each to one political party - is this the future of democracy in a world at the mercy of tech bros?

The House of Lords has plenty of very generous party donors currently sitting on its benches! Obviously Labour has traditionally been financially supported by the Unions, but the Tories have received millions from businesses through corporate or individual donations.

I think political parties will always receive support from people and organisations with money. As long as everyone is declaring those donations and the interests that come with them, then we all know where we stand.

What's the precise source of the money that a union puts aside to fund Labour, if it's only partly from the subs of those members happy to contribute?

I refer you to my earlier reply at 11:38

You obviously don't understand how the trades unions fund Labour. There is a separate voluntary Political Levy used to fund political parties. It would be illegal to use general membership subscriptions for this purpose.

What's the precise source of the money that a union puts aside to fund Labour, if it's only partly from the subs of those members happy to contribute?
What other sources of income or money making mechanisms does a union have?

No. Your union is not taking your subs & using them to fund the Labour party. Only if you agree to pay the voluntary Political Levy will you be funding the Labour party.

Reform are having to catch up, and fast.

The other political parties are grass root membership organisations that have grown organically over decades. Reform UK Party Ltd is a limited company not a political party & has existed for only a couple of years. If it wants to catch up with the other political parties then it can do it the way they did. Organise & recruit activists & funds don't rely on a couple of tax exile crypto billionaires.

Sure, stand corrected. But as a worker in the public sector, I have no alternative to union membership where maybe me and around 50% of fellow members are stuck with an organization we're obligated to be members of and pay subs towards, contribute majorly to a party I/we hate.
Whatever the rights and wrongs, this just ramps up the "two tier" criticism.

What about all the Reform voters in unions who have no say on the part of their subs that go to Labour?

You obviously don't understand how the trades unions fund Labour. There is a separate voluntary Political Levy used to fund political parties. It would be illegal to use general membership subscriptions for this purpose.

The question remains.

But - we know the unions exert influence on the Labour Party. Just because Labour are being outfunded by the new kids on the block, they suddenly want to change the rules, despite Burnham rejecting the notion back in August.

Same old bent Labour.

...and every year since time immemorial.
Reform are having to catch up, and fast.

And the unions don’t want influence?

The trades unions represent about 4 million members & gave £5 million to Labour in 2025.

Two cryptocurrency billionaires representing 2 cryptocurrency billionaires gave £72 million to Reform UK Party Ltd in 2026

The PP has a habit of disappearing when cornered.

An excellent post.

This moment is fraught with risk for Labour.

I have no idea if Burnham/Rayner are trying to make Farage a political martyr, but they're making a great fist of it.
The amount of persecution complex that Farage will be able to use as emotional leverage at the next GE is off the scale.
What about all the Reform voters in unions who have no say on the part of their subs that go to Labour?
And for consistency sake, if Dale Vince wanted to contribute £72m to Labour or The Greens, I'd say that was fine.

I wasn't going to read anymore of their hyperbole but that is some level of being triggered.

Buying votes??

How is it buying votes?

If donating to a campaign is buying votes ALL donations must be stopped.

It is donating to help canvass and raise awareness to the party.

Unless that £72m is being split into £50 notes and being passed under the table at the ballot box that is a ridiculous statement.

I love the smell of exploding Lefties in the morning. 😂

And the unions don’t want influence? Is that what you are asserting? Be clear, please.

No they’re not. Despite all the protestations the richest people on the planet don’t give millions away without expecting something in return. You know this or you wouldn’t be constantly carping about Labour governments and union funding.

There’s not even a pretence at being straight.

They don’t like a playing field being levelled - or they dont like it up em, as Kemi said, more eloquently.

They make it up as they go along. Like I said, Reform brings out the feeding frenzy.

2 million pounds must be chicken feed nowadays then. Who would have thought it.

The ‘fears’ for our democracy are fake.

Otherwise you would have criticised Starmer’s plans for the May local elections, or Labour’s continued attacks on free speech.

A democracy is not à la carte, sorry.

When.

If we’re being honest it’s about the wealthiest people in the world not being able to help buy votes and thwart democracy. It would be wrong whichever party was the recipient of the money.

Of course. It is nothing but envy and the usual left not being able to recognise democracy.