Like countless other UK citizens, I find myself perplexed and troubled by the seemingly unchecked practice of providing extravagant gifts to our Members of Parliament (MPs). By introducing an annual gift limitation of £150 per person or company, we can ensure that our public service remains free of undue influence or suspicion of corruption.

Most private companies in the UK have strict protocols in place regarding the giving and accepting of gifts. They understand that the exchange of lavish presents can insidiously breed mistrust and unfair advantage. As the very embodiment of our democratic values, MPs should adhere to the same set of principles.

An analysis by Transparency International UK in 2019 revealed that UK MPs had accepted over £2 million worth of gifts, trips, and hospitality from external sources. Such large-scale gifts, although declared, bear an unsettling resemblance to legalized bribery and thus act against the interests of ordinary citizens.

We must strengthen the regulation of gift-giving to MPs, and insist that all gifts - monetary and otherwise - are capped at a nominal amount of £150 per person or company per year. This measure will ensure that the arena of UK politics is not only free from the insinuation of foul play, but also acts as a signifier of the UK's intolerance towards any form of corruption within the walls of Parliament.

Join me in urging our MPs and the Parliamentary Standards Committee to instigate this change. Sign this petition to make UK politics a cleaner, fairer platform that solely serves its citizens.