Conservative MP Damian Collins has expressed concern about whether electoral rules have been sufficiently strengthened in time for a snap general election later this year.
In an interview with Cherwell, Collins, who chairs the parliamentary Digital, Culture, Media and Sport select committee, was asked whether current electoral rules would prevent a repeat of the 2016 scandal surrounding Cambridge Analytica’s use of Facebook data. He said: “No: if a snap election were called, we would need emergency legislation to amend our electoral law to create rules on social media campaigning that are fit for purpose.”
“In addition, current rules and limits around political donations can currently be easily evaded through making online donations from multiple countries using different currencies – we urgently need new electoral rules to change this.”
However, Mr Collins did not go so far as to oppose the idea of holding a snap general election later in the year: “An election would only take place if parliament cannot sustain itself. If this happens, then a general election must take place.”