UK to hold inquiry into foreign financial interference in domestic politics

"After the Gill verdict 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, would be willing to cooperate. Farage has described Gill, who previously led the party in Wales, as a single bad apple and condemned his actions as reprehensible, treasonous and unforgivable, adding that he was pleased that justice had been served."

"Amid growing concern inside the security services and parliament over the scale of the foreign threat to British democracy, the government-commissioned inquiry will focus on the effectiveness of the UK's 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."

An independent, government-commissioned review will assess foreign financial influence and interference in UK politics following high-profile cases linked to Russia and China. The review will evaluate the effectiveness of the UK's political finance laws, the ability of regulators to identify foreign influence, and safeguards against illicit funding streams, including cryptocurrencies. The review will examine rules governing all political parties and the Electoral Commission's enforcement powers. The inquiry follows the jailing of former Reform UK MEP Nathan Gill for accepting bribes from a pro-Kremlin agent and concerns about a UK-based lawyer working covertly for the Chinese Communist Party. Political leaders have indicated willingness to cooperate.

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