Trade union general secretaries have declined to unite behind a proposal to cap individual political donations, while calling for stronger measures to address the influence of large private contributions in British politics.
In a joint statement issued after Reform UK received an extraordinary £72m from two donors, union leaders said they would not back a specific numerical limit on donations for individuals but pressed for further steps to curb the role of ‘big money’ in the political system.
The Trades Union Congress (TUC) sought to distinguish trade union funding from wealthy individual donations, describing union subscriptions as the “cleanest money in politics” because they are drawn from workers’ contributions. Several general secretaries, however, were reported to be split on whether unions should formally support a cap that would apply to individual donors while protecting union giving.
Union officials argued that collective funding through member subscriptions differs in kind from large one-off gifts from wealthy backers and said any reform should reflect that distinction. The joint statement reiterated calls for greater transparency and regulatory change to ensure a more even playing field in party finance, without endorsing a particular numerical threshold for individual donations.
The intervention comes amid an intensifying public debate about party funding and the potential for large donations to shape political agendas. Union leaders said they would continue to engage with lawmakers and regulators on proposals aimed at tightening rules around disclosure and donations, while defending the role of organised labour in funding political activity.