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Representation of the People Bill
LegislationGB

Representation of the People Bill

UK 2026 bill reviving crypto donation ban, overseas cap; passed Report stage 14 July.

Revived on 6 July 2026 after the government accepted the Rycroft Review in full, clearing its remaining Commons stages in mid-July, hardening its crypto donation ban.

Last refreshed: 24 August 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic

Key Question

Why was the bill declared dead in May revived and hardened in July?

Timeline for Representation of the People Bill

#12 14 Jul

Mentioned in: Byrne pushes for a permanent crypto ban

UK Local Elections 2026
#12 14 Jul

Crypto donation ban backdated to March

UK Local Elections 2026
#12 6 Jul

Reached Report stage and Third Reading in the Commons

UK Local Elections 2026: The finance bill Reform outran returns
#8 13 May

King's Speech: 27 bills, no RPA Bill

UK Local Elections 2026
#6 6 May

Excluded from parliamentary wash-up before 29 April prorogation, leaving cryptocurrency donation ban inactive on polling day

UK Local Elections 2026: RPA Bill stranded, FCA review without probe
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Background

The Representation of the People Bill is a 2026 piece of UK primary legislation overhauling election and political-finance law. Drawing on Rycroft Review recommendations, it introduces the largest changes to UK electoral law since PPERA 2000: a retrospective ban on Cryptocurrency donations, an overseas-elector residency test, and tighter company-donation rules.

The bill looked dead in April, excluded from the pre-dissolution wash-up and absent from May's King's Speech, stalled at its ninth Commons committee sitting with Parliament prorogued around 29 April 2026. That changed on 6 July 2026, when the government accepted the Rycroft Review in full and revived the bill in the new session; MPs completed its Report stage and Third Reading in mid-July.

Housing Secretary Steve Reed's Report-stage amendment reclassifies every Cryptocurrency donation as impermissible, and the bill backdates that rule to 25 March 2026. Overseas donors now face a one-year residency test before giving over £100,000, and company donations are assessed on five-year post-tax profits. As of 24 July 2026, no timetable had been confirmed for the bill's remaining stages after summer recess.

Common Questions

Reference

What is parliamentary wash-up and why does it matter for the RPA Bill?
Parliamentary wash-up is the compressed period between dissolution and a general election when the government negotiates cross-party passage for priority bills. The RPA Bill was not included among the four named wash-up bills, meaning it falls with the current Parliament.Source: Parallel Parliament
Why was crypto banned for political donations?
The Rycroft Review found that Cryptocurrency donations are difficult to trace and verify, creating a loophole in party finance transparency. The ban applies retrospectively.
Will Reform UK have to return its cryptocurrency donations?
Only once the Bill receives Royal Assent, which has not happened. It cleared Report stage and Third Reading in the Commons in mid-July 2026 but has no confirmed timetable for its remaining stages; the crypto ban it contains would apply retrospectively to 25 March 2026 once in force.Source: Electoral Commission and Commons Report stage coverage
When was the crypto donation ban to UK political parties backdated to?
Housing Secretary Steve Reed's Report-stage amendment applies the ban retrospectively to 25 March 2026, treating any Cryptocurrency donation to a registered party as coming from an impermissible donor.Source: UK Elections 2026 coverage
Has the Representation of the People Bill become law?
Not yet. It passed Report stage and Third Reading in the Commons in the week of 14 July 2026, but as of 24 July its remaining stages and Royal Assent have no confirmed timetable, pending summer recess.Source: House of Commons proceedings, July 2026
Was the Representation of the People Bill revived after being dropped from the wash-up?
Yes. The government accepted the Rycroft Review in full on 6 July 2026 and revived the bill in the new parliamentary session; it reached Report stage and Third Reading in the Commons in the week of 14 July 2026.Source: UK Elections 2026 coverage
Why did the Representation of the People Bill miss the 7 May 2026 elections?
It was excluded from the pre-dissolution wash-up before Parliament prorogued around 29 April 2026, so its crypto-donation ban and other reforms were not in force on polling day.Source: Parliamentary wash-up coverage, April 2026
Does the Representation of the People Bill affect Christopher Harborne's donations?
No. The bill targeted Cryptocurrency donations, not conventional cash donations. Harborne's approximately £12m in donations to Reform UK were made as conventional financial transfers and would not have been subject to the retrospective return requirement.Source: Electoral Commission
What does the Representation of the People Bill actually change?
It bans Cryptocurrency donations to political parties with retrospective effect, caps overseas elector donations at £100,000 per year, and restricts Shell company donations.
Source Material
Parliament Bills