To: Andy Burnham
Andy Burnham said yes to capping political donations-now we need to hold him to it!
The solution is to introduce a clear and universal cap on all political donations. At the moment, Parliament is resisting wider reform and seems prepared only to look at limits on foreign donors and cryptocurrency. Even those limited proposals will probably end up allowing loopholes, and they do not deal with the central problem. Very large domestic donations are still allowed, and many people feel this creates the impression that influence can be bought.
Andy Burnham has already said publicly that he supports a cap. When WakeupGB asked him directly, he replied:
“Yes, I do think there should be a cap on political donations. This would guard against the perception of any one party being unduly influenced or swayed by one person or organisation.”
That is a clear commitment. Now we need to show that the public supports him in turning that commitment into real change.
I want Parliament to:
- Introduce a donation cap that applies to every donor
- Close the loopholes that allow very large sums to be given
- Put in place rules that are transparent, fair and properly enforced
- Recognise that donation caps are essential for rebuilding trust in politics
A universal cap would help ensure that political decisions are made in the public interest, not shaped by the size of someone’s wallet. With a senior figure already saying yes to this idea, this is a real chance to push for meaningful reform.
Why is this important?
For a long time I have felt that trust in politics has been slipping away. When political parties can accept very large donations, it naturally raises questions about who really holds influence. Even if nothing improper is happening, the perception alone is enough to damage confidence in the whole system.
That concern only grew when I came across a 2025 report which identified 125 companies that donated £30.15 million to political parties and then received £28.8 billion in government contracts. Whether or not there is any wrongdoing, figures like that make it impossible to ignore how serious the perception problem has become.
This is why Andy Burnham’s recent comment matters. When WakeupGB asked him directly whether political donations should be capped, he replied:
“Yes, I do think there should be a cap on political donations. This would guard against the perception of any one party being unduly influenced or swayed by one person or organisation.”
This was not a cautious or vague answer. It was a clear and direct commitment. If he is elected to Parliament, he could go on to play a major role in shaping the country’s future. That makes this the right moment to show that the public stands behind him on this issue.
Parliament is resisting meaningful change and is only prepared to look at limits on foreign donors and cryptocurrency. Even those limited proposals will probably end up allowing loopholes. Many of us believe that all donations need to be capped. Without that, the perception of undue influence will remain and trust will continue to erode.
There have been petitions on this issue before, but this one is different. It is tied to a recent and very clear public statement. It gives people the chance to show that they support the principle Andy Burnham has already backed. If we can gather a large number of signatures, it will send a strong message that the public wants this change and is ready to support him in delivering it.
This is our chance to back a commitment that has already been made and to push for a political system where no one can buy disproportionate influence. With enough signatures, we can help turn that commitment into action and begin to rebuild trust in Parliament.
