FW: The Representation of the People Bill - Update from Stella Creasy MP (Case Ref: ZA94491)

[roger.c...@volteuropa.org]

From: Stella Creasy MP <off...@workingforwalthamstow.org.uk>
Sent: 01 March 2026 11:41
To: roger.c...@ntlworld.com
Subject: The Representation of the People Bill - Update from Stella Creasy MP (Case Ref: ZA94491)

 

 

Hello

I’m writing to you as someone who has been in touch with me previously about our democracy- whether making the case for electoral reform, caps on donations or tackling foreign interference I wanted to update you on the forthcoming Representation of the People Bill which will have its second reading in parliament tomorrow. 

This legislation will do a number of things- you can read a House of Commons briefing on it at the link below but in particular it will lower the voting age to 16, change laws around donations and offer the chance to respond to the independent ‘Rycroft Review’ launched in December into foreign interference in our democracy. There will also be new laws on intimidation in our democracy: 

https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-10506/

I wanted to let you know that I am working with and supporting a number of proposals to amend this legislation to go further in addressing concerns about our democracy. Unfortunately I am not able to speak in tomorrow’s debate – the second reading is the beginning of the process of parliamentary scrutiny and so there will be many more opportunities to contribute to its shape - but it is our intention to bring forward a number of proposals in a number of areas. 

I have been a long standing advocate of democratic reforms- whether championing a change in our voting system to make it more proportional, the use of deliberative democracy techniques such as citizens juries or reform of donation laws to cap donations and tackle overseas funding, I have previously supported and voted for such measures and will use the opportunities in this bill to do so again.

I recognise the threat to our democracy comes from a number of directions at present. There are both those on left and right who preach the need to abandon democracy and who use intimidation to advance their causes – our capacity as a country and a community to be able to come together, debate,discuss and even disagree respectfully is under attack and this is not accidental. So too, trust and confidence in the political process is at an all time low as repeated scandals have eroded willingness to engage. The activities of hostile states who use social media to foment these trends – including in our community in Walthamstow – means this legislation must be a critical moment to act and prevent these behaviours from permanently damaging our country. We need to recognise the urgency of reforming and rehabilitating how our parliament operates, in a world where there are now more autocratic regimes than democracies. 

I wrote recently about the need for widespread political reform and what that might look like in response to the concerns about the appointment of Peter Mandelson, covering the need not just for electoral reform but donations and parliamentary procedures. You can find this article here: 

https://www.politicshome.com/opinion/article/our-whole-political-culture-must-change

You can also find a short speech I was able to make on these issues in parliament last year: 

https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2025-03-06/debates/BA868148-19EE-4A1C-9161-E6BAE9296EAA/PoliticalFinanceRules#contribution-668F6B4C-3D93-4F82-850F-FB438C4FAAB7

I will know more about what changes to this legislation will be in scope when the legislation moves through its committee stage. That will include what amendments are likely to command support and what the response to the Rycroft Review will mean – I would be happy to update residents further on this work and will try to do so via my weekly enewsletter and the regular ‘town hall style’ meetings I have been running for local residents, but I hope this note reassures you of my pro active commitment to reform. If you don’t get my newsletter to get information like this you can sign up for it here: 

https://workingforwalthamstow.org.uk/walthamstow-newsletter-signup


With kind regards

Stella