Government to hold inquiry into foreign interference in UK domestic politics

An independent review into the impact of foreign financial influence and interference in domestic politics by Russia and other hostile states was announced yesterday after one of Reform UK's former senior politicians, Nathan Gill, was jailed for accepting bribes from a pro-Kremlin agent.

- Pippa Crerar

Amid growing concern inside the security services and parliament over the scale of the foreign threat to British democracy, the inquiry will focus on the effectiveness of political finance laws. This will include ensuring that regulation can identify foreign influence and that existing safeguards against illicit funding streams, including cryptocurrencies, are effective. It will also examine the rules governing all political parties as well as the Electoral Commission's current enforcement powers.

The focus on the evolving threat of political interference follows the cases of the former MEP Gill, who was jailed for 10 years for accepting bribes on behalf of the Russian state, and Christine Lee, a UK-based lawyer identified as working on behalf of the Chinese Communist party.

After the Gill sentencing last month, the Reform UK leader, Nigel Farage, said an investigation into Russian and Chinese influence over British politics would be welcome, so there is an expectation that he, along with other political leaders, will be willing to cooperate.