UK tightens rules on overseas political donations to stop 'dodgy funding'

Britain tightened its rules on overseas political donations on Monday, as part of efforts to stop foreign money influencing elections, and as concerns swirl around what Housing Minister Steve Reed called "dodgy funding".



Last year, the government ordered a review into foreign financial interference in politics after a former politician in Reform UK was jailed for taking bribes to make pro-Russia speeches and statements. The review found Britain faced a persistent problem of foreign countries, including Russia, China and Iran, trying to influence and undermine the country's democracy, prompting the government to introduce the new rules.



They come as the leader of the anti-immigration Reform UK party, Nigel Farage, is under investigation by the parliamentary standards watchdog over whether he should have declared a £5 million donation from a Thailand-based cryptocurrency billionaire, which was given before Farage said he would stand as a member of parliament.



Britain's Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government said on Monday that from now on political candidates would be required to declare donations of over £2,230 received prior to becoming a candidate and prove any pre-candidacy funding had come from legitimate sources.