Countering Foreign Financial Influence and Interference in UK Politics
House of Commons · Written Statements · 6 Jul 2026 · 1 speech · Official Report
Today, the Minister for Security, my hon. Friend the Member for Wallasey (Dame Angela Eagle), and I have laid and published the Government’s full response to Philip Rycroft’s independent review into countering foreign financial influence and interference in UK politics, which we jointly commissioned in November 2025. We did so to rigorously test the strength of our current democratic system, and to ensure that we are taking decisive action to stay ahead of a rapidly evolving threat. We are grateful to Mr Rycroft for his comprehensive and thoughtful work. His review provides a clear assessment of a threat that is changing both in nature and in method and is demanding of a co-ordinated and forward-looking response-a response that we are pleased to bring before this House today. Protecting the integrity of our precious democracy is a fundamental responsibility of Government. The UK already has a strong framework in place to detect, deter and disrupt foreign interference. It will be underpinned by a comprehensive programme of work to reform and modernise our elections, as well as a sustained cross-Government effort to protect our democracy and those who participate in it. This work is supported by the defending democracy taskforce, which brings together expertise from across Government-the security, intelligence and policy communities-and beyond to co-ordinate the UK’s response to hostile state activity and wider threats to our democratic processes. Through this approach, we are...