New bill would dismantle Election Commission’s role in maintaining democratic process, say opposition parties
Boris Johnson is facing growing controversy over a proposed new law that will hand Michael Gove the power to set the remit of the hitherto independent watchdog that oversees elections and party finances, including donations.
With the PM struggling to contain the fallout from attempts to undermine the parliamentary commissioner for standards, Kathryn Stone, attention is now turning to his government’s efforts to bring the Electoral Commission to heel. The commission recently concluded an investigation into the funding of the refurbishment of Johnson’s Downing Street flat, which is yet to be published.
