Rushanara Ali, a former democracy minister who resigned last August, has urged incoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham to take bolder action on the government's elections bill, which she described as "timid" and "incremental." Ali, who helped draft the legislation, said the bill still contains significant gaps regarding voting reform, cryptocurrency donations, and social media regulation.
Criticism of the Current Bill
Ali called on Burnham to listen to the concerns of Labour MPs who have been seeking to amend the bill, which was delayed this week to allow parliamentary 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 added that she wanted stronger measures on harassment, intimidation, online hostility, and hatred but faced challenges advancing these issues within the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).
Echoes of Wider Frustrations
Ali's criticisms reflect the frustrations of many Labour MPs who believe Prime Minister Keir Starmer's caution contributed to the party's declining poll numbers. Many hope Burnham will embrace more radical changes, though he may encounter similar electoral and financial constraints that hindered Starmer. Ali is among several Labour MPs seeking changes to the representation of the people bill, who were preparing to rebel in votes on Tuesday before the bill's delay gave Burnham an opportunity to reshape it.
Key Reforms Sought
Ali is calling for a national commission on voting reform to recommend a more representative system before the next election. She also backs a complete ban on cryptocurrency donations, rather than the government's current moratorium. This push follows revelations that Reform UK accepted millions of pounds in undisclosed crypto gifts from entrepreneurs. "I cannot understand why the government is going down this moratorium route rather than a ban," Ali said. "The scope for changing it to a ban means you have to go through the legislative process again. I just think that's leaving the door open for further interference in our democracy through illegitimate donations, and that needs to be dealt with right now."
Additional Changes and Urgency
Ali is also advocating for tougher regulation of disinformation on social media and stricter rules to prevent harassment of MPs and candidates during elections. Lucy Powell, a Burnham ally tipped to run his "No 10 North" operation, has tabled an amendment to impose similar restrictions on social media companies in election periods as those applied to broadcasters. "We've got to act now," Ali said. "If we don't, deepfake and disinformation, and the onslaught of major influences with hundreds of millions of followers that are peddling far-right hostility, is going to infect our politics with a kind of poison we've never seen before."
