Urgent probe into foreign interference in UK politics

The government has launched an independent review of foreign financial interference in UK politics, after the jailing of a former Reform MEP for taking Russian bribes.

- MILLIE COOKE POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT

Nathan Gill, a former Reform UK party leader in Wales, was jailed for 10 and a half years last month after he admitted being paid £40,000 to make pro-Russian statements in the European parliament - conduct that housing secretary Steve Reed described as a “stain on our democracy”.

Announcing the review in the Commons yesterday, Mr Reed said that the government now needs to consider whether its “firewall is enough” to protect the country from electoral interference.

The inquiry, which will report at the end of March, will look into the current financial rules on donations and election safeguards and make recommendations, the housing secretary said.