Commons Freezes Crypto Donations, Rejects Lords’ Victims Bill Changes

High-Level Summary

The Commons day was dominated by safeguarding UK democracy from foreign interference, scrutiny of Northern Ireland policy and public finances, Prime Minister’s Questions, and consideration of Lords amendments to the Victims and Courts Bill. Ministers announced immediate measures in response to the Rycroft Review, including a retrospective moratorium on cryptocurrency political donations and a £100,000 annual cap on donations from overseas electors. The House then voted to reject all seven Lords amendments to the Victims and Courts Bill. Other business included questions on the Northern Ireland Troubles legacy, Good Friday Agreement issues, and a statement of support for voluntary and Executive-led funding in Northern Ireland. The day ended with an Adjournment debate on nuclear test veterans, with the Government pledging “maximum transparency” and further updates on historic records.

Detailed Summary

Business before Questions and Speaker’s Statement

The House ordered that the Rycroft Review be laid before it: “Resolved,”; “That an humble Address be presented to His Majesty… The Rycroft Review”. The Speaker thanked long‑serving Table Clerk Liam Laurence Smyth: “I thank Liam for his service”, and noted, “today is the birthday of the hon. Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon)”. No further decisions were taken.

Oral Answers: Northern Ireland Troubles legacy and reconciliation

The Secretary of State said the Troubles Bill would create “a reformed, human rights compliant and independent legacy commission” to investigate and produce family reports. He clarified that the previous conditional immunity scheme “was never enacted and has never had effect”, and rejected the notion of vexatious prosecutions: “there is no such thing as a vexatious prosecution”. He added the Bill closes a loophole on sexual offences: “There will now be a means of investigating any sexual-related offences that occurred during the period of the troubles”, and outlined veteran safeguards such as remote evidence and anonymity. Timing for the next stages will be “announced in the normal way”. On resourcing, he said about 1,000 legacy cases had moved from the PSNI to the new commission, with costs transferred. No votes; further consultation and amendments are expected at Committee.

Oral Answers: Good Friday Agreement and related issues

Marking the anniversary, the Secretary of State said, “On 10 April we will celebrate the anniversary of the Good Friday agreement”. He opposed suggestions to leave the European Convention on Human Rights, calling it “highly irresponsible”, and said of a border poll that “there is no evidence that there is a majority for a constitutional change” while committing to uphold the Agreement “in letter and in spirit”. No decisions were taken.

Oral Answers: Proposed Police Training College at Kinnegar

The Minister noted policing and justice are devolved and that “the next steps are for the PSNI and the Executive to discuss a way forward”. He agreed to a site visit: “I would be very happy to join the hon. Member on that visit”. No central funding commitments were made.

Oral Answers: Spring Forecast and Northern Ireland funding

The Secretary of State said Northern Ireland would benefit from “almost £390 million in additional funding… including £231 million in 2026-27”, encouraged a “multi-year budget”, and outlined work with the voluntary sector on programme funding. On Treasury’s open book exercise, he said there would be a report to the Executive and added, “I would welcome its publication”. No votes.

Prime Minister’s Questions (Engagements)

The Prime Minister condemned an antisemitic attack: “An attack on Britain’s Jewish community is an attack on all of us”. He said North Sea licensing decisions are statutory matters for the Secretary of State: “Under statute, that is a matter for the Secretary of State”, reiterated that oil and gas remain part of the energy mix alongside renewables, and confirmed, “Energy bills for households are capped until the end of June”. He restated that “The Israeli settlements, including the E1 settlement, are a flagrant breach of international law”, and on the IRGC said, “The existing proscription powers are not designed for a state organisation” while keeping the issue under review. He affirmed support for the ICC: “we support the Court; we are party to the treaty”. No divisions took place.

Statement: Foreign Financial Influence and Interference in UK Politics (Rycroft Review)

The Secretary of State said the review found a “persistent problem of foreign interests seeking to exert influence… and that the threat has become arguably more acute”, and welcomed its recommendations. He announced two immediate steps: an annual £100,000 cap on donations by overseas electors, applied retrospectively from today, with excess sums to be returned within 30 days once in force; and a moratorium on all political donations made through cryptocurrencies, also retrospective from today, lasting until regulation ensures full transparency [refs: a303.2/17, a303.2/18]. He promised “a comprehensive, line-by-line response to all the report’s recommendations” and to amend the Representation of the People Bill as necessary. The Opposition supported the aims but criticised process and timing, noting publication “just 20 minutes before Prime Ministers questions”. The Government argued swift action was needed to avoid a “window of opportunity” for malign actors. No vote; amendments will be tabled on Report.

Bills Presented

Three presentation Bills received a First Reading: Amenity Land (Purchase by Local Authorities) Bill; General Medical Council (Fitness to Practise) Rules (Amendment) Bill; and Marine Mammals (Protection) Bill. For example, “Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 29 May, and to be printed”. No debates or divisions occurred at this stage.

Victims and Courts Bill: Consideration of Lords Amendments

Introducing the debate, the Minister said reforms must be “workable, proportionate and capable of being delivered effectively”. On free transcripts and publication (Lords 1 and 3), she noted the existing plan to provide free sentencing remarks to all victims by Spring 2027, argued that routes to verdict are “unlikely to add significant value”, and that publication within 14 days was “not operationally viable at this time” due to anonymisation demands. On homicide abroad (Lords 2), she said the change risked obligations “impossible to deliver in practice” and confusing the code’s scope. On private prosecution costs (Lords 4), she said setting transparent rates would reduce disputes while preserving the right to bring private prosecutions, with consultation before rates are set. On the unduly lenient sentence scheme (Lords 5 and 6), she accepted the intent and said the Government are “working closely… to develop practical and workable legislative change”, later adding they are “committed to bringing forward legislative changes on that time limit” to allow out‑of‑time applications. Outcome: the Commons disagreed to all seven Lords amendments—Lords 1 (Ayes 291, Noes 158); Lords 2 (Ayes 295, Noes 162); Lords 3 (Ayes 286, Noes 163); Lords 4 (Ayes 300, Noes 149); Lords 5 (Ayes 292, Noes 162); Lords 6 (Ayes 290, Noes 163), and Lords 7 was also disagreed to. A Reasons Committee was appointed.

Petitions

Members presented petitions on horse and rider road safety [refs: a365.1/1–a365.1/7]; the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill [refs: a365.3/1–a365.3/9]; an apology for Britain’s role in African chattel enslavement and colonialism [refs: a366.1/1–a366.1/11]; flooding in Ladygrove, Didcot [refs: a367.1/1–a367.1/10]; and an HGV weight limit on Walsall Road, Lichfield [refs: a368.1/1–a368.1/10]. These were formally recorded; no decisions were taken.

Adjournment Debate: Nuclear Test Veterans

Rebecca Long‑Bailey raised the newly released 2014 Atomic Weapons Establishment draft report on Christmas Island and called for an inquiry and compensation. The Veterans Minister pledged “maximum transparency”, noted the ongoing transfer of records—“Over 16,300 of them are already listed and accessible”—and said the Department’s review of blood and urine testing records is “now nearing completion” with findings due “in the very near future”. On the 2014 document, she said “parts of the Ministry of Defence were made aware of the report in 2014, as were Government legal representatives. It is not yet established whether Ministers were made aware at the time” [refs: a378.0/3–a378.0/4]. She committed to investigate at pace and update the House [refs: a378.0/9, a378.0/12]. No motion was before the House.