Political donors could face tougher residency rules

The government is planning to tighten residency rules for political donors to ensure that those giving significant amounts of money reside in the UK.

The announcement follows a row over two donations totalling £72m to Reform UK from two British crypto-billionaires who have both recently lived abroad.

Reform leader Nigel Farage said the donations from Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne are "100% compliant with the law today" but he was unable to say they would be permissible under proposed rule changes.

The government wants to change the law on donations to UK political parties from British voters living overseas, including a £100,000 cap backdated to 25 March.

It also wants to introduce a minimum residency period of at least 12 months in which the cap would still apply for those who move back to the UK.

It is not currently clear exactly when Delo and Harborne returned to the UK.

Under the current rules, foreign donations are illegal in the UK, but British voters living abroad can give as much as they want to political parties.

MPs have supported the government's proposals by approving amendments to the Representation of the People Bill. The bill is currently being scrutinised in the House of Lords.