Andy Burnham has been warned that his government has “missed opportunities” to reform British democracy by failing to introduce a donations cap or changes to the voting system in its elections bill.

The Representation of the People Bill passed its third reading yesterday, but key amendments from backbenchers on voting reform and a donations cap were not heard.

Campaign group Unlock Democracy has branded the government’s failure to act on electoral reform and barriers to overseas voting “major missed opportunities”. 

Alex Sobel MP’s amendment, which called for a national commission to review alternatives to first-past-the-post for UK elections, was ruled out of scope by the Commons speaker.

This is despite widespread support for the amendment, which 185 MPs signed.

Democracy minister Florence Eshalomi responded to the amendment saying: “The government’s priority is a politics that works for all people in all places, not some people in some places. The Prime Minister remains committed to electoral reform as a way of supporting that objective.

“However, we must be honest, this is a complex constitutional matter and it is premature to legislate now for one approach. I would be very happy to meet with many Members from across the House to hear their views, and look at how we can work on a strong proposal and discuss the next steps.”

Tom Brake called the decision to rule the amendment out of scope “palpably absurd and an embarrassment”.

Brake said: “The Prime Minister says he wants to build cross-party consensus on changing the voting system before the next election. An independent commission is the best way to do that. It would put reform above the immediate interests of any one party and help build support for a lasting settlement.”

Labour MP Stella Creasy tabled two amendments on introducing a donations cap, neither of which were considered or voted on during the bill’s third reading yesterday.

One of her proposals, which was signed by more than 60 MPs, called for an immediate £500,000 limit which would reduce to £100,000 in the second calendar year.

The other called for a £100,000 cap on donations and was sponsored by 45 MPs.

On the government’s commitment to tackle “mega donors” in UK politics, Brake welcomed the fact that Angela Rayner and Louise Haigh have asked the Electoral Commission to review political spending limits.

Democracy Minister Florence Eshalomi announced a cross-government taskforce to tackle the issue of “UK-based mega-donors” during yesterday’s elections bill debate.

However, Brake added that “the Ministers’ statement from the despatch box leaves important questions unanswered. We know nothing about its membership, the options it will consider or when it is expected to report. A promise to act “as soon as possible” offers no guarantee that reforms will be in place before the next general election.

“These reviews must deliver real reform, not provide an excuse for putting off difficult decisions. The proof of the pudding will be in the eating – and whether the government is prepared to restrict the influence of big money in our politics.”

Olivia Barber is a reporter at Left Foot Forward

The post Andy Burnham warned of ‘major missed opportunities’ as government refuses to hear key elections bill amendments appeared first on Left Foot Forward: Leading the UK's progressive debate.

Andy Burnham has been urged by a campaigner to honour his promise to introduce a cap on donations to political parties.

Yesterday evening, the Guardian reported that Burnham has U-turned on his promise to cap political donations at £500,000.

According to government sources, Burnham has decided not to back amendments to the elections bill that would cap donations. The bill will return to Parliament next week. 

In May, Burnham told WakeUpGB campaigner Shaun Bowler that he agreed there should be a cap on political donations.

He voiced support for a cap “to guard against the perception of any one party being duly influenced or swayed by one person or organisation”.

The updated register of MPs’ financial interests, which was published last week, showed that Burnham accepted more than £325,000 in donations in the three months before he became an MP again.

The Guardian has reported that trade unions have influenced Burnham’s decision not to back a cap. Unions reportedly said that amendments to the bill, which will return to Parliament next week, could undermine their ability to donate to the party.

However, Paul Holden, the investigative journalist who wrote a book about undeclared funding received by Labour Together, said: “This is being briefed as if it’s unions opposing donations caps and that’s why Burnham has caved on his promises to cap political donations at £500k. 

“But we’ve literally JUST SEEN Burnham’s donations disclosures, which are not even mentioned in this article.

“They show Burnham getting a pittance from unions but substantial donations from Gary Lubner (£25k) and Lord Sainsbury (over £160k) to support his Labour leadership bid. Lubner and Sainsbury were two of the biggest previous funders of Labour Together and the Starmer projects, who both personally made donations in the millions to Labour Together and/or the Labour Party. 

“Burnham made his promise to cap donations at £500k to an activist in May this year. And then in June and July he gets bankrolled by the types of mega-donors who would be impacted by a donations cap, limiting their ability to influence politics. Then he drops the proposals that would impact on his personal donors. Deeply disappointing and really hard not to join these dots.”

Bowler said: “If his government now refuses to back a donations cap, then he has broken the promise he made to me – and to voters.

“I wanted to believe that someone was finally going to take on the culture that has left so many people feeling that their voices don’t matter and that wealthy people can buy influence over our government.”

Reacting to Burnham’s reported U-turn, former Green Party leader, Caroline Lucas, wrote on X: “Unbelievably disappointing u-turn from the PM – where is the serious culture change at Westminster we were promised?  Our democracy should not be for sale.”

Journalist George Monbiot wrote on Bluesky: “So the ultra-rich will continue to own our politics, and our country. Disappointing to say the least.”

Olivia Barber is a reporter at Left Foot Forward

The post Andy Burnham urged to keep promise to campaigner and voters over donations cap appeared first on Left Foot Forward: Leading the UK's progressive debate.

Reform UK, which paints itself as an “anti-establishment” party, received a staggering £22.8 million in donations in 2025, by far the largest sum out of any other political party.

Despite having received a huge sum of money in donations according to the latest Electoral Commission figures, the party is now trailing behind Labour according to multiple opinion polls.

Much of Reform’s funding came from a handful of large donors, including £9 million from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne, £1 million from Reform’s treasurer, Nick Candy and £250,000 from Fiona Cottrell, the mother of convicted fraudster George Cottrell.

By comparison, the Conservatives received £15.2 million in donations last year, while Labour brought in £6.5 million in donations, and the Green Party and Lib Dems received £2.7 million and £2.6 million respectively.

The Labour MP for Walthamstow, Stella Creasy, has tabled an amendment to the Representation of the People Bill that would cap political donations from any individual or organisation at £100,000.

Responding to the Electoral Commission data on political donations last year, CEO of Unlock Democracy, Tom Brake told Left Foot Forward: “As the sums donated to political parties continue to balloon, buying even more policy influence, the case for a donation cap gets stronger. This makes the government’s unwillingness to act difficult to comprehend.

“The ‘new politics’ Andy Burnham is pledging won’t happen until big money is taken out of politics. He could make this reality with a simple amendment to a bill which will be back in Parliament in less than a month’s time.”  

Olivia Barber is a reporter at Left Foot Forward

The post Reform UK received staggering £22 million in political donations last year appeared first on Left Foot Forward: Leading the UK's progressive debate.