https://democracyforsale.substack.com/p/how-to-secretly-pour-60m-into-british

Exposed: The loophole that AfD-linked billionaires, hard Brexiteers and other anonymous donors use to bankroll politicians

‘Loophole’ is a strange word. It sounds small, almost insignificant – a minor technicality.

But when it comes to funding British politics, loopholes are anything but trivial.

Our election laws are riddled with ‘loopholes’. Foreign billionaires can donate via UK shell companies. Political parties can accept the proceeds of crime.

But perhaps the most dangerous — and least understood — loophole is how donors funnel money into British politics through shadowy groups called ‘unincorporated associations’.

Unincorporated associations don’t need to have a formal structure, file accounts or even say where their money comes from. Crucially, it’s perfectly legal for foreign money to be channelled through them.

New analysis by Democracy for Sale has found that over the past two decades, more than £60 million has flowed into British politics through this little-regulated route.

Transparency campaigners and senior political figures are now calling for urgent reform — and for this loophole to be closed in the Elections Bill, expected in the coming days.

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