Representation of the People Bill delayed until September
The Report Stage and Third Reading of the Representation of the People Bill, originally scheduled for 14 July, have been postponed following a change to Commons business. The Bill will now return to the House of Commons on Wednesday 2 September 2026.
Backbench MPs have tabled a wide range of amendments, including several relating directly to the APPG for Fair Elections’ priorities.
Electoral reform
New Clause 31 would require the Government to report on establishing an independent National Commission on Electoral Reform.
The Commission would examine the voting system used for House of Commons elections and make recommendations for reform, with the aim of creating a system that is fairer, more representative and capable of commanding public confidence.
Disinformation
A substantial group of amendments would strengthen protections against misleading and manipulated election content. Proposals include:
- requiring labels on AI-generated or materially altered political content;
- strengthening the law relating to candidate deepfakes and false statements;
- creating a public database of paid digital political advertising;
- giving the Electoral Commission greater access to information held by social-media platforms;
- introducing standards for the accuracy of political advertising; and
- establishing a protocol for serious incidents that threaten the integrity of an election.
Dark money and foreign interference
Other amendments would strengthen the transparency and regulation of political funding. Proposals include:
- requiring greater disclosure of the original source of campaign funding;
- restricting political advertising funded by impermissible donors;
- tightening checks on the true source of donations and political loans;
- introducing stronger controls on overseas and cryptocurrency funding;
- increasing scrutiny of foreign-linked donations; and
- giving the Electoral Commission greater access to financial information.
APPG members will continue to work across Parliament to ensure the Bill is strengthened when it returns to the Commons. Their focus will be on securing measures that protect the integrity of elections, improve transparency in political finance, tackle disinformation and advance reforms that enhance public confidence in our democracy.