Contributions
1,009 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDForeign Financial Influence and Interference: UK PoliticsI thank the hon. Lady for her and her party’s support for the review. I also thank her for her work on the Bill Committee. She is quite right; we need to make sure that when the…25 Mar 2026HANSARDForeign Financial Influence and Interference: UK PoliticsI would like to make a statement on foreign influence and interference. The responsibility of protecting our democracy is a duty that every single Member of this House shares. As…25 Mar 2026HANSARDForeign Financial Influence and Interference: UK PoliticsLet me thank the hon. Member for her and her party’s engagement with Philip Rycroft’s review. She is right to point to the growing threat; it has been evolving over recent years.…25 Mar 2026HANSARDForeign Financial Influence and Interference: UK PoliticsI am more than happy to make sure that my hon. Friend gets an appropriate meeting. I also belatedly wish the hon. Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon) a happy birthday.25 Mar 2026HANSARDForeign Financial Influence and Interference: UK PoliticsThere are recommendations covering precisely the points that my right hon. Friend raised. I have accepted the report, in general terms, in full. We will respond in detail to each…25 Mar 2026HANSARDForeign Financial Influence and Interference: UK PoliticsI thank my hon. Friend for his question, and I recognise his concerns. I have addressed them in answer to previous questions, and I will not repeat those responses.25 Mar 2026HANSARDForeign Financial Influence and Interference: UK PoliticsI thank the Chair of the Select Committee for her questions and for her support for this work. The intention is to bring the amendments forward on Report. In advance of those…25 Mar 2026HANSARDForeign Financial Influence and Interference: UK PoliticsMay I thank the shadow Secretary of State for his support for the purpose and intent of this legislation, and, indeed, for his and his party’s engagement with Philip Rycroft and…25 Mar 2026HANSARDForeign Financial Influence and Interference: UK PoliticsI am aware of that important concern. I am happy to make sure that he gets an appropriate meeting to discuss it.25 Mar 2026HANSARDForeign Financial Influence and Interference: UK PoliticsI am not so sure there is much precedent for that level of retrospectivity.25 Mar 2026HANSARDForeign Financial Influence and Interference: UK PoliticsThe purpose of the review, and therefore of my statement, is to address growing concerns about foreign influence on our elections, particularly the attempts by hostile states to…25 Mar 2026HANSARDForeign Financial Influence and Interference: UK PoliticsThis Government are committed to strengthening our democracy and upholding the integrity of elections, as set out in our 2024 manifesto. We have already made progress on this,…25 Mar 2026HANSARDForeign Financial Influence and Interference: UK PoliticsThe US, of course, is our closest ally. The provisions that we are making in this legislation do not target any one country, or indeed any one individual; they are intended to be…25 Mar 2026HANSARDForeign Financial Influence and Interference: UK PoliticsWe will respond in detail to each of the 17 recommendations, including the one that my hon. Friend references. However, he is absolutely right: we can and should learn from best…25 Mar 2026HANSARDLocal Government ReorganisationThis Government are undertaking the biggest reform of local government in a generation, ending the two-tier system and replacing it with new single-tier unitary councils. This…25 Mar 2026HANSARD Points of Orderindicated assent.25 Mar 2026HANSARDForeign Financial Influence and Interference: UK PoliticsThat is an important point, because the ability of shell companies to exist as funnels for dark, dirty money entering and polluting UK politics is real. That is why we are taking…25 Mar 2026HANSARDForeign Financial Influence and Interference: UK PoliticsI thank the hon. Member and his constituents for their interest in this important matter. Philip Rycroft makes 17 detailed recommendations in his review. We will respond to all of…25 Mar 2026HANSARDForeign Financial Influence and Interference: UK PoliticsWe will lay the details before the House so that Members on both sides have access to the relevant information. It was important that the provisions in these two circumstances…25 Mar 2026HANSARDForeign Financial Influence and Interference: UK PoliticsI thank my hon. Friend for her support and her active interest in making sure that the legislation that follows is as robust as possible. I would be more than happy to make sure…25 Mar 2026