Security minister Tom Tugendhat snubbed an official plea by the UK’s elections watchdog urging him to close legal loopholes that could be letting other countries donate to British political parties through the back door, openDemocracy can reveal.
The government today defeated an attempt to tighten the law around the issue, six months after the Electoral Commission urged Tugendhat in writing to act. The minister never responded to the commission's letter.
By contrast, the government has lost no time in pushing ahead with controversial new rules requiring voters to bring ID to polling stations, at an estimated cost of £180m. Just seven allegations of voter impersonation were made last year, none of which was proven.
