Former minister urges Andy Burnham to strengthen ‘timid and limited’ elections bill

Rushanara Ali has called on the incoming prime minister to overhaul the elections bill, saying it was drafted with an incremental and limited approach.

• Ali said she would have made the bill more comprehensive on harassment, intimidation, online hostility and hatred, but was constrained by an “incremental approach”.
• Ali said she cannot understand why the government chose a moratorium on crypto donations instead of a full ban, calling it a risk to democratic integrity.
• Ali backed a national commission on voting reform and stricter rules against disinformation and harassment of candidates.
• Lucy Powell, a Burnham ally, has tabled an amendment to apply similar election-period restrictions to social media companies as to broadcasters.