# Cross-Party & Dark Money — Overview

# Cross-Party / Dark Money — UK Political Donors

This file covers money in UK politics that crosses party lines or is deliberately opaque.

## Key Categories

### Unincorporated Associations
Unincorporated associations are the main vehicle for "dark money" in UK politics — groups that raise and spend money on political causes without the transparency requirements of registered political parties. They are legal but have minimal reporting requirements.

**Notable examples:**

- **The Woodland Trust / Bearwood** — Conservative-linked but technically separate
- The **ERG's funding network** (European Research Group)
- Various **Brexit campaign groups** that continued operating after 2020

### Individual Donors Who Give Across Parties

Some wealthy individuals donate to multiple parties or causes:

- **Sir Paul Marshall** — Hedge fund billionaire (Marshall Wace). Has donated to both Conservatives and pro-Brexit causes. Also funds GB News and UnHerd. Net worth estimated £1.5bn+
- **Lord David Sainsbury** — Labour donor (profiled separately) who also funds cross-party science and innovation causes

### Overseas & Notable Complex Donors

- **Mohamed Mansour** (Egyptian billionaire, Conservative — profiled separately)
- **Alexander Temerko** (ex-Yukos, Conservative — profiled separately)
- Various **Russian-linked** donors and funds that have been subject to increased scrutiny post-2022

### Lobbying & Influence Networks

- **The 95 Group** — Labour-aligned business group
- **Labour Together** — Centre-left think tank funded by John Mills and other Labour donors
- **Conservative Way Forward** — Thatcherite pressure group
- **Right To Buy / housing lobby** — Cross-party influence through think tanks

## Notes

- The UK has relatively weak donation transparency compared to other Western democracies
- Electoral Commission reforms proposed in 2024 have been repeatedly delayed
- The 2024-2025 period saw increased scrutiny of foreign-linked donations
- "Dark money" is most active in marginal seat campaigning where national rules are weaker

## Sources

- Electoral Commission register of donations
- Transparency International UK — political integrity reports
- OpenDemocracy — dark money investigations
- Who Funds You? — party funding transparency project