Review, which will focus on effectiveness of political finance laws, follows conviction of former Reform politician for accepting bribes
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An independent review into the impact of foreign financial influence and interference in domestic politics from Russia and other hostile states has been announced after one of Reform UK’s former senior politicians, Nathan Gill, was jailed for accepting bribes from a pro-Kremlin agent.
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.
