Crypto billionaires Christopher Harborne and Ben Delo will face restrictions to making multimillion pound political donations for a year after moving back to the UK under strengthened legislation returning to parliament this month.
The Observer understands that changes to the representation of the people bill will prevent overseas voters who have returned to the UK from donating more than £100,000 for the first 12 months after they relocate. The move will apply retrospectively from 25 March this year, meaning any sums above £100,000 donated since that day would have to be returned.
Harborne, who is based in Thailand, has donated £15m to Reform since the 2024 general election. He was restored to the electoral roll in June, registering his address at a farmhouse in Hampshire. Delo, who has said he is moving back to the UK from Hong Kong, gave £4m in the first quarter of this year. It is not known whether the two men have made further donations that have not yet been declared.
Not that the US has the same laws abour residency and voting and so on anyway. But this is startlingly close to a Bill of Attainder, no? Something so carefully crafted as to hit only a couple of people. Which the Americans don’t allow.
Even in the British system it’s more than a little off. Those who currently win elections deliberately skewing the system so as to harm those who might beat them at the next election. Vile stuff.
Where did we put that Tyburn Tree?
I believe New York created a law that would specifically entrap Trump and built in a sunset clause that would lapse the bill once he had been convicted.
Once again the left demonstrate they are incapable of learning from experience. I can already hear the squeals over a Reform/Conservative bill that directly arracks their source of funding.
We’ll have to rely on their incompetence. There’ll probably be a massive loophole in this law.
“For my friends, everything. For my enemies, the Law”.
Oscar Benevides.
When we do it, it’s good. When you do it, it’s evil.
Can we deprecate the use of the word “harm”, please? Nowadays it usually means “an effect or result I don’t like”.
The move will apply retrospectively…
The US constitution also expressly prohibits ex post facto laws. No backdating.
Didn’t stop the change in the law to cancel the statute of limitations on child* sexual abuse, the one which E. Jean Carroll then used to sue Donald Trump……..
* E Jean Carroll was at least** 49 when the alleged attack took place.
**She cannot recall the exact day, month or year, as you wouldn’t for something so horrific obviously.
This suggests an early – and very dirty – General Election to me…
So Parliament can just pass laws whenever they like? And it’s the actual, enforceable, law of the land?
Blimey.
Unless everybody tells them to FOAD and ignores it. Then they have to find a face-saving solution. Doesn’t happen often (enough) though.
They are also trying to invent a retrospective law to put the Rotherham paedo gang rapist back in jail.
Well, tough. The judge sentenced him to 22 yrs not life, so now he’s out and there’s nothing to be done unless pandora’s box is opened.
Here’s a simpler solution. Publish his address.
I read that, in addition to the dozens of his white victims, some Pakistani girls also fell prey to this vile chap. If true, there’ll be some members of his own ‘community’ who’d like a quiet word with him.
Possibly not. We know that some Muslim parents will murder their daughters for “bringing shame on the family”, so it’s quite probable that some other girls will have been pushed into the grasp of this monster as punishment for whateverthefuck these twats think is dishonourable.
Hang him!!!!
Y’know, I seem to be always saying that.
Hey Bogan, nice to see that in Albo’ you have a politician who can give an honest answer to a straight question. I’d choose “everybodys favourite antipodean sex midget”* too.
*Smashie and Nicey.
Well, we don’t foreigners influencing our government, do we – except of course for Frau von der Leyen or President Putin or that nice Mr Xi …