UK democratic contestation is at risk of being skewed by record single-donor gifts, Gordon Brown warns, and he is pressing lawmakers to embed a cap on individual political donations in the Representation of the People Bill now before the House of Lords. Brown says recent multi-million-pound donations to Reform show how concentrated private money can overwhelm public debate and tilt campaign messaging.
Drawing on his experience of tight party finances after 2005, Brown recalled that Labour entered the 2010 campaign with debts of £25m and was able to spend only £8m, while the Conservatives spent £17m, leaving Labour unable to develop new online advertising. He points to a broader trend: a decade ago only 1% of individual and corporate donors gave £1m or more, by 2024 that cohort accounted for 35% of large donations.
Brown highlighted two recent record donations from crypto billionaires Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne, arguing their combined value exceeds all donations to UK political parties in 2025. He said that higher spending almost certainly translates into better electoral outcomes, and that leaves voters vulnerable to well-funded propaganda including advertising, leaflets and targeted online messaging.
He urges the government to adopt the recommendations of the Commission on the UK’s Future, which he chaired, and to include a donation cap in the current bill. The proposal Brown supports would give the secretary of state the power to set a cap after consulting the Ethics and Integrity Commission and the Electoral Commission. He noted previous, similar proposals, from the Hayden Phillips review in 2007 and the Committee on Standards in Public Life in 2011, and the backing of senior figures such as John Major. In December 2025 the UK co-sponsored a United Nations resolution urging parties to consider limits on donations.
Brown cites comparative models for reference: Canada’s cap at about £930 a year, France’s limits of £6,400 for parties and £3,900 for presidential campaigns, and Italy’s £85,600 annual cap per person or company. He also highlights domestic debate, noting that before it was withdrawn an amendment backed by Stella Creasy and 63 MPs would have set an annual cap of £500,000 falling to £100,000 after one year. On the question of an appropriate level, he quotes Andy Burnham, who said, "My gut feeling would suggest somewhere in the region of £500k."
Transparency International UK’s figures show how spending has shifted: outside general election years Labour and the Conservatives recently spent about £60m and £55m respectively, and in 2024 Labour’s election spending rose to a record £103m while the Conservatives spent £74m. The organisation also offers modelling that suggests a £50,000 annual cap would greatly reduce big-money donations while preserving sufficient funds for effective campaigning without extra public finance.
Brown argues party funding reform should be part of a wider cleanup, pointing to about 100 paid lobbyists in an unreformed House of Lords and weak disclosure requirements for lobbying activity. He concludes that limiting the influence of ultra-rich donors and tightening lobbying rules are necessary steps to restore public trust and rebalance electoral competition.
