Overview
- Communities Secretary Steve Reed announced an independent review into foreign financial interference, tasking Rycroft to assess political finance laws, Electoral Commission powers, and safeguards against illicit funding including cryptocurrencies and foreign state activity such as from China and Russia.
- The review will report by the end of March 2026 and is intended to inform next year’s Elections and Democracy bill, with ministers saying the findings will be published in full.
- Officials confirmed the inquiry will not examine alleged interference in the 2016 Brexit referendum and will focus on more recent vulnerabilities and cases.
- The move follows Nathan Gill’s conviction and 10 years and six months’ sentence for taking at least £40,000 to promote pro-Russia lines in 2018–2019, with police citing messages involving Ukrainian politician Oleg Voloshyn linked to Viktor Medvedchuk.
- Reform UK said it welcomes the review as Nigel Farage condemned Gill’s actions, while security agencies and Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee have warned of exploitable gaps in party funding rules and overseas influence operations.