8 Accepted

The Representation of the People Bill contains inexplicable deficiencies on corporate donations.

Recommendation
The Representation of the People Bill contains inexplicable deficiencies on corporate donations. We support limiting donations to those carrying out meaningful activity in the UK. However, the Bill contains a loophole, which would allow companies to donate the upper limit of their UK-generated revenue hundreds of times over to individual MPs and candidates. That needs fixing. (Conclusion, Paragraph 76)
Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the concern about a loophole in corporate donations allowing multiple contributions and has accepted recommendations to fix it. It is introducing a new requirement for donors to submit a declaration to ensure companies do not evade rules on donation limits.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government Accepted
The Government agrees with the Joint Committee on their concern around the risk of specifying the limits on corporate donations applying to the total amount per company rather than per recipient. The Rycroft review made a similar recommendation which we have accepted in full. The Government is also introducing a requirement for all donors making donations over a set threshold to submit a declaration with their donation. This will ensure that both recipients of donations and the Electoral Commission have the information necessary to ensure companies are not evading rules to donate their profit multiple times.
Addressee Bodies
Cabinet Office
Timeline
Recommendation age 0.4 yrs
Report published 18 Mar 2026