Autonomy’s report entitled Cleaning Up Politics

That this House welcomes the publication of Autonomy’s report Cleaning Up Politics; recognises that the overwhelming majority of the public believe the wealthiest in society use political donations to influence government in their own interests and that trust in politics is at historic lows; believes that proposals to cap political donations, prevent MPs from holding second jobs, and ban political donors from securing public contracts from the governments they pay to elect would improve trust in politics by strengthening transparency in decision making; further believes that these measures will reduce the corrupting influence of the super rich, who use their wealth to secure cash for access, cultivate paid for relationships to obtain lucrative public contracts, and move through second jobs as part of the revolving door between public service and personal enrichment; notes that reshaping how decisions are made, and ensuring that the voices heard by those in power reflect the public at large rather than those able to pay the most, is essential to building a politics centred on the needs of ordinary people, raising living standards and building a prosperous country; and therefore calls on the Government to adopt the recommendations set out in the report.