Moves to prevent UK tax exiles from bankrolling British political parties are getting huge support from MPs. 

Amendments to the Political Parties and Elections Bill, tabled by Pendle MP Gordon Prentice, will make it unlawful for tax exiles and non doms to donate more than £5,000. 

Donors will have to sign a declaration that they are UK residents for tax purposes and are not non domiciled UK residents. 

Speaking from his constituency office earlier today, the MP said: “Given the enormous support my amendments have, I hope the Speaker will select them for debate. I also want the Government’s unequivocal support.” 

“People such as Lord Laidlaw should not be allowed to shape the course of our politics with multi million pound donations, signed off from their tax havens. It is outrageous that we have allowed this abuse to continue for so long.” 

163 MPs are backing the Prentice amendments. The Bill comes back to the Commons for report on Monday 9 February.  

Note to Editors: The Prentice amendment reads:  Page 6, line 4 [Clause 8], at end insert—‘(1A) In section 54 of the 2000 Act (permissible donors), in subsection 2(a), after “register” there is inserted “who is resident in the United Kingdom for the purposes of Part 14 of the Income Tax Act 2007 (c. 3) and is not a non-domiciled United Kingdom resident”.’.