Ex-minister urges Andy Burnham to overhaul 'timid' elections bill
Former democracy minister Rushanara Ali calls on incoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham to expand the elections bill, which she describes as 'timid and limited'.
Rushanara Ali, who resigned as democracy minister last August, has criticised the government's elections bill, calling it 'timid and incremental'.
She said the draft legislation still has major gaps regarding voting reform, cryptocurrency donations and social media regulation.
Ali is urging new Prime Minister Andy Burnham to listen to the concerns of Labour MPs who have been seeking to amend the bill, which was delayed this week to make time for the Hillsborough law.
'If I had my way at the time, I would have made the bill much, much more comprehensive,' Ali said. 'But I was working within the confines, frankly, of an incremental approach – quite timid and limited.'
She wanted more on harassment, intimidation and online hostility but faced challenges moving the DSIT (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology).
Ali is one of several Labour MPs calling for a national commission on voting reform to recommend a more representative system before the next election. She also backs a full ban on crypto donations, rather than the current moratorium.
'I cannot understand why the government is going down this moratorium route rather than a ban,' she said. 'It leaves the door open for further interference in our democracy through illegitimate donations.'
Other changes Ali seeks include tougher regulation of disinformation on social media and stricter rules to prevent harassment of MPs and candidates during elections.
Lucy Powell, a Burnham ally, has tabled an amendment that would impose similar restrictions on social media companies in the run-up to an election as apply to broadcasters.
