Labour’s donations crackdown is a blow to Reform UK – and a highly political move
Reform UK are no doubt the biggest losers from the government’s emergency measures to overhaul political donations.Labour MPs are absolutely delighted that No 10 is at last bringing in changes that will hobble Reform’s ability to raise money from its Thailand-based mega-donor, Christopher Harborne, at the same time as making the electoral system fairer in the eyes of the public.“It’s a win-win,” says one backbencher who has campaigned on the issue.“We stop [Reform] being able to raise so much money from people based abroad and highlight one of their biggest weaknesses – taking money from billionaires based offshore.”Every new recommendation – from the ban on crypto donations to a cap on overseas donations – was carefully justified by the independent Philip Rycroft report as a step to reduce the risk of foreign interference in UK elections.
Steve Reed, the communities secretary, was also stern in his attitude to implementing the measures, saying: “In the light of the gravity of the issues raised in the report, I am not prepared to allow any window of opportunity in which malign actors based overseas can funnel dark money into our politics.”But the truth is also that the move is a highly political one from a government that appears to have realised it could afford to be more muscular in bringing in changes that could adversely affect its opponents.Fundraisers in political parties are traditionally nervous about any new rules that could limit their own ability to raise money.Former advisers in Labour’s No 10 are believed to have previously blocked efforts to put more restrictions on donations.One ex-aide says there was always a nagging hope that a rich crypto bro may suddenly materialise with a huge donation to the Labour party, which is traditionally funded by trade unions and a smaller base of UK donors such as the Ecotricity founder Dale Vince, the supermarket tycoon David Sainsbury and the former Autoglass boss Gary Lubner.
However, those reservations appear to have been set aside, with minds sharpened after the £12m of donations to Reform from Harborne, as well as the conviction of the former Reform politician Nathan Gill for taking bribes from a Russia-linked associate,Although the new restrictions are a blow to Reform, the party has not deluged social media with outraged clips against the move – showing an awareness that drawing attention to the issue will not necessarily generate much sympathy,Nigel Farage himself has been quiet on the fundamental overhaul that will affect not just future donations from Harborne but also the party’s website, which solicits donations in cryptocurrency,The Reform MPs were not in their seats for the debate on stopping the flow of foreign money into UK politics having staged a theatrical walkout during prime minister’s questions after asking a question about illegal migration,The main public comment so far has come from Richard Tice, the party’s deputy leader, who told GB News that it showed the government was “trying to stop the incredible progress of Reform, and cryptocurrencies are a perfectly legitimate way of investing, of earning within the law”.
It was a sign they were “quite clear they’re absolutely petrified, terrified of the progress of Reform”, he added.His assessment is not wrong.Many Labour figures are deeply concerned about the vast sums being given to Reform – as an issue of democratic fairness as well as politics.The question now is whether they might extend more restrictions to donations from UK sources.So far, the measures recommended by Rycroft are limited to ones that will head off the risk of foreign interference.
However, further changes – including a cap on individual donations and greater transparency requirements for small donations – have not been ruled out.More moves to curb the arms race for mega-donations would surely work not just in the public interest but in Labour’s as well.
US Postal Service to introduce 8% fuel surcharge on packages
The US Postal Service (USPS) plans to introduce its first-ever fuel surcharge on packages to offset rising energy costs, according to a statement.The surcharge, set at 8%, is expected to take effect on 26 April and remain in place until 17 January 2027, under the current plan.Packages under Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, USPS Ground Advantage and Parcel Select will be affected by the surcharge.“Transportation costs have been increasing, and our competitors have reacted with a number of surcharges,” reads the statement by the USPS. “We have steadfastly avoided surcharges and this charge is less than one-third of what our competitors charge for fuel alone, so even with this change, the Postal Service continues to offer great value in shipping with some of the lowest rates in the industrialized world
Rising profit margins turbocharged Australia’s latest inflation figures – but something worse is just around the corner | Greg Jericho
It is rare for economic data to be out of date the moment it is published – and yet that is the case with the February inflation figures out on Wednesday at 11.30am. By 11.31am they had been digested and ignored amid a flurry of “before the full impact of the Iran war” comments.In February, annual inflation was 3
Meta and YouTube designed addictive products that harmed young people, jury finds
Meta and YouTube have been found liable for deliberately designing addictive products that hooked a young user and led to her being harmed, a jury ruled on Wednesday. Jurors found the tech companies to be both negligent and having failed to provide adequate warnings about the potential dangers of their products.The jury awarded the plaintiff in the case damages of $6m, with Meta to pay 70% and YouTube the remainder. It took nearly nine days of deliberations for the Los Angeles jury to reach its verdict. This lawsuit, over social media’s alleged harm to young people, was the first of its kind to go to trial
Record investment in quantum computing talent | Letter
Dr Simon Williams (Letters, 19 March) writes that ambition in quantum computing cannot succeed without sustained investment in people and fundamental science. He is correct on that point, but wrong to say that UK’s investment plans risk losing quantum computing talent.The UK’s advantageous position in quantum has only emerged through sustained long-term public investment from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and partners into fundamental physics research projects, and the best people, infrastructure and partnerships. It is through this that the UK is poised to reap the benefits of the quantum revolution.In the last 10 years, UKRI’s councils have made investments in physics research, supporting hundreds of academics and building the foundation for where we are today
Jessica Pegula left frustrated as Elena Rybakina roars back to reach Miami last four
Jessica Pegula had her chances. Midway through the second set of yet another showdown with Elena Rybakina, the American had engineered a flawless start. After bulldozing through the opening set, Pegula’s level at the beginning of set two put her in with a fair shot of snatching a win against her Kazakhstani opponent, who has dominated their recent meetings.Instead, Pegula departed Miami with another tough lesson to parse through after being shown once again that the best players in the world pounce on even the smallest drops in intensity. Despite her mediocre start, Rybakina produced a brilliant comeback to reach the Miami Open semi-finals with a 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 win
NBA expansion explained: teams in Vegas and Seattle, LeBron’s role and hungry billionaires
The NBA has moved a step closer to adding teams in Seattle and Las Vegas.The league’s board of governors met this week and voted to explore bids and applicants for teams exclusively in those two cities, beginning the process for its first expansion in more than two decades. Bids are expected to be in the $7bn to $10bn range per franchise.Commissioner Adam Silver had previously described this year as a target for a decision on expanding the 30-team league, which last added a new franchise in 2004. The league will now evaluate bids over the next several months
Crispin Odey tried to ‘manipulate’ sexual assault victim, FCA tells court
Iran war threatens to delay large offshore wind projects in EU and UK
ECB could raise eurozone rates ‘as soon as next month’; oil price dips on peace talk hopes – as it happened
Europe could face fuel shortage by April as Iran throttles supplies, says Shell boss
Estate of Mike Lynch ordered to pay £920m to Hewlett Packard Enterprise
UK pet owners: we would like to hear about your experience of vet bills