The rich and powerful cannot buy
undue influence
Political equality is undermined when wealthy individuals and corporations are able to exert disproportionate influence on our politics.
According to the Electoral Commission, in 2024 political parties spent a record £94.5m at the General Election. Parties received almost £100m in donations in the same year. Spending by individual candidates increased in 2024 to £23.3m.
At the same time, just 18% of people surveyed by the Electoral Commission in 2025 thought political spending and funding in the UK is transparent. Work by Survation reveals a high degree of public concern about the ability of wealthy foreign nationals to influence our politics, as well as majority public support for a cap on donations.
Work by campaigners has shown up weaknesses in the existing regulatory regime, leading to millions in donations from unknown and questionable sources, those with privileged access and even foreign governments and their supporters.
JRRT will fund work that takes advantage of the opportunities presented by forthcoming legislation to achieve reforms. We will also fund work that builds a pathway towards deeper system reform.
Funding areas may include:
- Campaigns seeking to change to the regulatory framework to tighten the rules
around political giving (eg donation caps, restrictions on Unincorporated Associations, and UK shell companies, measures to prevent foreign interference) and to improve transparency on how money is given and spent in politics.
- Exposure of abuses and bad practices.
- Effective measures to reduce cash for honours and peerages, scrutinise gifts, hospitality and trips for politicians, tackle second jobs, and challenge improper lobbying interests on ministers and MPs.
- Building the foundations for an alternative system of political finance that rebuilds public trust and influence and overcomes the formidable barriers posed by political party interests in the status quo.
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