Fiona Bruce takes apart Reform’s hypocrisy over retrospective law changes

BBC Question Time presenter Fiona Bruce roasted Reform MP Danny Kruger on the programme for his party’s hypocrisy and confected outrage over laws applying retrospectively.

Reform have been facing questions over donations the party has accepted from two crypto billionaires, Christopher Harborne and Ben Delo, who both gave £36 million each last week.

Questions have been raised over whether the donations are legal and if they would have to be returned.

Even before the current donations to Reform, the government was already looking at tightening the rules following the Rycroft Review into foreign financial influence. The government then said it would introduce a £100,000 annual cap on donations from overseas electors.

And the rules go further than simply stopping somebody living abroad from writing an enormous cheque. They would also continue to restrict some people who return to Britain, until they have been resident here for a full calendar year.

Crucially, the government intends the new limit to apply retrospectively to donations made since 25 March this year. Donations caught by the new rules and above the limit could therefore eventually have to be returned.

Reform have tried to claim that laws which apply retrospectively are undemocratic and unconstitutional and Kruger tried to make the same point on Question Time.

Bruce asked the East Wiltshire MP: “Do you think laws should never be applied retrospectively?”

When he replied that this is a “very important principle,” Bruce asked: “Then why does Reform want to retrospectively change the law by rescinding indefinite leave to remain to people that already have it?”