US EditionUK Probes Foreign Interference After Ex-Reform UK Party Leader Jailed
The review will assess political finance rules, donations including cryptocurrency, and election safeguards, with findings due by March to address risks from foreign interference.
- On December 16, 2025, Communities Secretary Steve Reed ordered an independent review into foreign financial interference after Nathan Gill was jailed.
- Last month, Nathan Gill was sentenced to ten and a half years after admitting to taking up to £40,000 linked to Oleg Voloshyn for pro-Russian statements as an MEP.
- The review will be led by Philip Rycroft, former senior civil servant, and will conduct an `in-depth assessment` of financial rules including cryptocurrency donations, shell companies, `troll farms`, and think‑tank funding, reporting by the end of March.
- Steve Reed, Housing Secretary, called Gill's actions a `stain on our democracy` and urged protecting system integrity, while Richard Tice, Reform UK deputy leader, welcomed the review but urged investigation into Labour and China, and cross-party figures demanded donation caps and social media scrutiny.
- Rycroft's limited remit may curb the probe's reach, as the 12‑week timeline and lack of statutory powers likely limit uncovering bribery, but findings could inform the Elections Bill and clampdowns on shell companies and UK trading subsidiaries.
38 Articles
38 Articles
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has initiated an urgent review of the scale of foreign interference in British politics amid preparations for changes to legislation to tighten rules on political donations.
The British government announced in March the launch of an independent inquiry on "foreign financial interference in politics" by the United Kingdom, following the condemnation of corruption by a former European Parliament from the Pro-Brexit UKIP party, who participated in...
The British government announced in March the launch of an independent inquiry on "foreign financial interference in politics" by the United Kingdom, following the condemnation of corruption by a former European Parliament from the Pro-Brexit UKIP party, who participated in a pro-Russian influence campaign, reports AFP.
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