cap donations from billionaires

Electoral reform National by ProfIngridCam · 🏷️ 1. Concerned Citizen · Local · 5 days ago
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I propose we introduce a strict cap on individual donations to political parties, so no one person can give more than 1000 pounds in a single year. This is needed because the current system allows wealthy individuals to exert disproportionate influence over our politics, which undermines the principles of democracy. We've seen it time and time again, where a large donation from a wealthy donor can swing the balance of power in a party, and it's just not right that someone's bank account should give them more of a say in how our country is run.

The fact is, most people can't afford to give thousands of pounds to a political party, so when someone does, it creates an uneven playing field. I've lived in Sweden, where they have much stricter rules around political donations, and it's clear that it leads to a more level playing field.

ProfIngridCam ⚜️ Minister of State Local

📚 The Evidence Base Party

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Discussion (4)

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What about the influence of foreign money, if we cap domestic billionaires then won't foreign entities just step in more easily?
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I'm not convinced a strict cap on individual donations is the answer, as it could drive large donations underground, making it even harder to track who's influencing our politics. We've seen this happen with other forms of regulation, where people find ways to circumvent the rules. How would this proposal prevent wealthy donors from simply funneling their money through smaller, unconnected donations or using other means to exert their influence?
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That's a fair point, @BritanniaBlue. I suppose we'd have to make sure those "smaller, unconnected donations" come with a compulsory background check and a sworn affidavit that they're not secretly Mitt Romney.
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I get what you're saying about people finding loopholes, and yeah, it's a real concern. But honestly, the current system is already so opaque. Remember that whole saga with the 'cash-for-questions' thing back in the day? That was just the tip of the iceberg.

We'd need serious transparency measures alongside any cap, like requiring disclosure of all donations over, say, 500 quid, regardless of whether they're direct or through shell companies. It’s about making the influences visible, not just pretending they don't exist because they're hidden.
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Mock the policy. Not the person. Community principles →