The government should be bolder on its election reforms
3 min read
I was inspired to run for parliament in 2024 after watching with horror as the previous Conservative governments dragged the reputation of our political system through the mud.
Partygate, lobbying, dodgy Covid contracts – it all stunk, and now trust in our politics is at an all time low.
That’s not to say that my party is above reproach. We all can and must do better when it comes to political integrity. That’s why today’s publication of the government’s Elections Strategy is so welcome.
There are lots of great measures in there. I’ve always supported votes at 16, for example, while automatic voter registration will ensure that no one is blocked from exercising their democratic rights.
But I wonder if we can be even bolder, if we want the forthcoming Elections Bill to be absolutely watertight.
Can we really claim that the Electoral Commission is independent when the government continues to set its strategy and policy statement, for example? The Tories neutered the elections watchdog by introducing this measure. It should be Labour which restores its full independence to hold all parties, including ours, to account.
For me, cryptocurrencies should be nowhere near our politics. The use of digital currency to obscure the source of funds and even launder cash for organised crime gangs is well documented, so I was surprised not to see a blanket ban in today’s announcement.
Finally, any law is only as good as its enforcement. We’re boosting the Electoral Commission’s powers, which is most welcome. But without investing in enforcement, I fear we will be unable to provide a credible deterrent. Political finance crime can be hugely complex, so I do think we should be finding a sensible way to fund increased specialist investigative and prosecutorial capacity so we can really hold wrongdoers to account.
But all of that is not to take away from well-meaning and sorely needed reforms. For me, the real headline is new ‘know your donor’ policies for political parties. Transparency International UK found that 1 in every £10 donated since 2001 has come from ‘unknown or questionable sources’ – that is an outrage that we are finally putting a stop to.
I spent over a decade working in banks doing just this – following the money to crack down on all manner of crimes, from money laundering to tax evasion and bribery. It is hard, gritty work, but just as it is important to protect our financial system from dirty money, so too must we protect our political system.
Increased transparency for donations from unincorporated associations, banning donations from shell companies and turbocharging the Electoral Commission by giving it the power to levy fines of up to £500,000 (versus the poxy £20,000 it currently has), are all brilliant measures myself and colleagues in the All Party Group on Anti-Corruption have long been calling for.
Tweaks aside, today’s announcement is yet another step in this government’s mission to restore trust in politics as a force for good. It can’t come soon enough.
Phil Brickell is Labour MP for Bolton West.
