Political Parties and Elections Bill

My Lords, my noble friend Lord Campbell-Savours has made a powerful case not only on the substance of the matter, but on enabling the other place, which was prevented from discussing the matter, not only to discuss but to determine whether a restriction should be placed on non-UK residents making donations to political parties. My noble friend may not have drafted the perfect amendment because, for example, it seems to leave it possible for non-UK residents to make donations indirectly through an unincorporated association or a company, but unless the Minister undertakes this evening to bring forward an improved amendment with similar objectives to those of my noble friend Lord Campbell-Savours, I am inclined to vote for his amendment so that MPs and parliamentary draftsman can pool their respective skills to improve upon it. It may be said that restrictions on donations is restricting one form of democratic participation according to tax status while leaving other forms unrestricted. I do not regard the making of huge, unlimited donations in the same light as the right to vote, the right to have fair elections or the right to stand as a candidate for the other place. I doubt the suggestion that a restriction on donations might breach Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights. This has been raised by the Government with no supporting evidence or legal argument; they simply posed the view that this restriction on donations suggested by my noble friend would be a breach of the provision for freedom of association and assembly. There are restrictions on the right to vote in many of the convention countries, including our own. We are contemplating reducing the voting age. There are restrictions on the way in which elections are run. Surely, if it is suggested that restrictions on the finance that may be provided by a donor to a political party contravene Article 11, it would suggest that Article 11 of the convention is rigid, clear and specific. However, I am sure that it is not so, and I cannot imagine that a full, successful argument could be made that my noble friend’s proposal would result in a breach of the convention. I support my noble friend.