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Is changing donation laws for Reform retrospectively unfair or politically justified?

455 replies

Gav1961 · 15/09/2026 08:19

I wonder if others have a view on this:

I should start by saying I am no supporter of the Reform Party… not by any measure… but it sometimes we all have a right and indeed a duty to speak up when we see injustice. Even when done to those we might dislike. An old-fashioned notion I know, but a valuable one none the less.

So… The Labour party (temporality constituting the government) , who have received tens of millions of pounds from union member subscriptions over the years… so effectively from one body… have decided that whilst the massive donations to Reform are currently legal, they, the labour government with the approval of all the other parties, will make the receipt of such currently legal gifts, retrospectively illegal.

Mmmm…

Last month I saw that same government protest that the convicted ringleader of the Rochdale grooming gang, cannot be sent back to Pakistan when he is released from prison… because any law made to do this could not be retrospective…. It just would not be British.

OK I have my disagreements and issues with Reform… but does a legitimate UK political party really deserve to be treated worse than a convicted gang leader of groomers?

Anyone else see that as a bit odd, a bit contradictory, a bit self-serving… unconstitutional and illogical? Come on, don’t be shy… it’s just an opinion.

Funny thing is that whilst the cash would undoubtably have helped reform in its bit to run the UK there is one thing that would be more effective in swelling its ranks…. That is a blatantly unfair and self-serving retrospective law hamstringing their attempts to grow.

For anyone who doubts the unintended effects of grossly and manifestly unfair treatment of a one group over another (regardless of its actual merit)… study internment in N Ireland. The single most effective recruited campaign for any organisation… ever. But then not one had at the time tried to bribe the voting public with £5000 dollars each… 😊

People do not like unfairness. I would go so far as to say that Labour are walking into a trap… So predictable was this reaction. Think about it… maybe these guys never thought their £36m was at risk… or am I now getting a little conspiracy theorist?

What are the strategists thinking? Apart from being unfair, non-democratic and blatantly self-serving… There could be no better way to swell the ranks of Reform. The very thing they want to avoid.

OP posts:
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Notsurewhattodonowattheend · 21/09/2026 09:21

BIossomtoes · 21/09/2026 09:06

You have to be resident in the UK to register.

So how does this work then?

individuals registered on a UK electoral register, including overseas electors

TemperanceWest · 21/09/2026 09:15

BIossomtoes · 21/09/2026 09:14

the Tories removed that restriction before the 2024 GE.

Funny, that.

Innit.

BIossomtoes · 21/09/2026 09:14

the Tories removed that restriction before the 2024 GE.

Funny, that.

TemperanceWest · 21/09/2026 09:10

BIossomtoes · 21/09/2026 09:06

You have to be resident in the UK to register.

You can register as an over seas voter it seems:

You can register as an overseas voter if you move or live abroad.

You must have previously lived in the UK and be either:

a British citizen
an eligible Irish citizen registering to vote in Northern Ireland

Eta: I remember now. There used to be a 15 year limit on overseas voters, but the Tories removed that restriction before the 2024 GE.

BIossomtoes · 21/09/2026 09:06

Notsurewhattodonowattheend · 21/09/2026 09:03

That’s odd, it says: individuals registered on a UK electoral register

Surely that would include any British expat who chooses to register. It won’t rule out anyone.

You have to be resident in the UK to register.

Notsurewhattodonowattheend · 21/09/2026 09:03

TemperanceWest · 20/09/2026 22:45

I found this:

In Great Britain, permissible sources are:

individuals registered on a UK electoral register, including overseas electors and those leaving bequests

most UK-registered companies

Great Britain registered political parties

UK-registered trade unions

UK-registered building societies

UK-registered limited liability partnerships (LLP) that carry on business in the UK

UK-registered friendly societies

UK-based unincorporated associations that carry on business or other activities in the UK

some types of trust and certain public funds

Edited

That’s odd, it says: individuals registered on a UK electoral register

Surely that would include any British expat who chooses to register. It won’t rule out anyone.

mumumental · 21/09/2026 03:12

We must do this. We can’t have billionaires influencing the way we live, in their favour.

TemperanceWest · 20/09/2026 22:45

Notsurewhattodonowattheend · 20/09/2026 22:34

Just wondering what makes someone ineligible to donate. Is it living abroad? If do, how many days a year? Or is it not paying UK income and capital gains taxes?

I found this:

In Great Britain, permissible sources are:

individuals registered on a UK electoral register, including overseas electors and those leaving bequests

most UK-registered companies

Great Britain registered political parties

UK-registered trade unions

UK-registered building societies

UK-registered limited liability partnerships (LLP) that carry on business in the UK

UK-registered friendly societies

UK-based unincorporated associations that carry on business or other activities in the UK

some types of trust and certain public funds

SheilaFentiman · 20/09/2026 22:44

Notsurewhattodonowattheend · 20/09/2026 22:34

Just wondering what makes someone ineligible to donate. Is it living abroad? If do, how many days a year? Or is it not paying UK income and capital gains taxes?

As a starting point, a few posts above yours, I googled the below for another poster. My understanding that residency in this case is defined similarly to how it is for taxation purposes. But Google will give you the detail.

The legislation currently restricts donations from expats to £100,000, which would also apply for the first 12 months after they return to the UK – backdated to 25 March this year.
Ministers have already brought in a minimum residency requirement of the remainder of the calendar year in which they return, plus a further full year.

Notsurewhattodonowattheend · 20/09/2026 22:34

Just wondering what makes someone ineligible to donate. Is it living abroad? If do, how many days a year? Or is it not paying UK income and capital gains taxes?

pointythings · 20/09/2026 21:46

UltraHorse · 20/09/2026 21:15

I don't get it at what sum of money is a donation unfair are they trying to take away choice ?

I'll try to explain it in very simple terms.

An individual who is a union member who has voluntarily signed up to donate to Labour at a rate of approximately 10p a week = OK.

A billionaire with stakes in a certain currency that must not be named handing over £36 million in a day = not OK.

If you can't see why those two things are completely different, I despair.

pointythings · 20/09/2026 21:44

UltraHorse · 20/09/2026 21:31

And in that case what about freebies for MPs what's the limit for that?

If you're still [eyeroll] going on about Starmer's glasses and all - those were declared. Not that I think that any MP should be getting gifts but there are rules around gifts. And it's Reform who is breaking them.

SheilaFentiman · 20/09/2026 21:32

UltraHorse · 20/09/2026 21:31

And in that case what about freebies for MPs what's the limit for that?

Dunno, mate, but since you are on the internet, I presume you can google that for yourself.

UltraHorse · 20/09/2026 21:31

And in that case what about freebies for MPs what's the limit for that?

SheilaFentiman · 20/09/2026 21:26

UltraHorse · 20/09/2026 21:15

I don't get it at what sum of money is a donation unfair are they trying to take away choice ?

LMGTFY.

The legislation currently restricts donations from expats to £100,000, which would also apply for the first 12 months after they return to the UK – backdated to 25 March this year.

Ministers have already brought in a minimum residency requirement of the remainder of the calendar year in which they return, plus a further full year.

UltraHorse · 20/09/2026 21:15

I don't get it at what sum of money is a donation unfair are they trying to take away choice ?

pointythings · 20/09/2026 20:53

BIossomtoes · 20/09/2026 20:21

I don’t think anyone would think it acceptable. I’d be appalled if Labour received two huge donations from individuals. Union donations are entirely different as they’re comprised of small amounts from many working people on whose behalf the money is collected and passed on.

Quite. Political donations on that level are unacceptable no matter who the recipient is. Democracy should not be for sale.

pointythings · 20/09/2026 20:52

UltraHorse · 20/09/2026 20:20

That's a bit insulting you think Reform Donors didn't have a choice or is it one rule for labour

Of course they had a choice. But there's a difference between an individual donating £36 million and an individual donating a couple of quid. The latter isn't going to buy political influence. If you can't see the difference, I really can't help you.

BIossomtoes · 20/09/2026 20:23

UltraHorse · 20/09/2026 20:20

That's a bit insulting you think Reform Donors didn't have a choice or is it one rule for labour

Of course they had a choice. The point @pointythings was making is that union members can opt out of the political donation portion of their union fees.

BIossomtoes · 20/09/2026 20:21

UltraHorse · 20/09/2026 17:31

Labour should leave reforms donations alone It's always been ok for labour to get money from unions So they are getting bigger donations so what If it was labour getting big donations labour would have thought it acceptable

I don’t think anyone would think it acceptable. I’d be appalled if Labour received two huge donations from individuals. Union donations are entirely different as they’re comprised of small amounts from many working people on whose behalf the money is collected and passed on.

UltraHorse · 20/09/2026 20:20

That's a bit insulting you think Reform Donors didn't have a choice or is it one rule for labour

pointythings · 20/09/2026 20:00

UltraHorse · 20/09/2026 17:31

Labour should leave reforms donations alone It's always been ok for labour to get money from unions So they are getting bigger donations so what If it was labour getting big donations labour would have thought it acceptable

Except that the union donations represent small donations from individual members, and those individual members have a choice about whether or not they donate. If you think that is the same thing then you are fairly typical of the average Reform supporter.

UltraHorse · 20/09/2026 17:31

Labour should leave reforms donations alone It's always been ok for labour to get money from unions So they are getting bigger donations so what If it was labour getting big donations labour would have thought it acceptable

MrsBennetsPoorNervesAreBack · 18/09/2026 18:21

Oh, what a shame I didn't get to see @Blokeinthepub's comments before they were zapped!

Blokeinthepub · 18/09/2026 18:07

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