Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Rycroft Review: Letter to parliamentary party representatives, of 25 March 2026, for what reason the legislation will be introduced on a retrospective basis.

Following the publication of the independent Rycroft Review on 25 March 2026, the government announced its intention to act upon two key recommendations from that Review, to introduce a cap on donations from overseas electors and a moratorium on donations via cryptoassets.

We are applying these rule changes retrospectively, to ensure malign actors aren’t able to funnel illegitimate money into UK politics in advance of the change in law.

The government will be introducing these measures by amendment to the Representation of the People Bill where there will be sufficient opportunity to scrutinise and debate the proposals.