Defending Democracy

National Security Strategy (Joint Committee) Open Inquiry
Opened: 24 Feb 2025 Parliament page
20 Recommendations
3 Conclusions
1 Report
4 Oral sessions
11 Letters
4 Events
Activity timeline 17 events
15 Jul
2026
Report published
23 Jun
2026
Correspondence
18 Mar
2026
Report published
16 Mar
2026
Correspondence
16 Mar
2026
Correspondence
24 Feb
2026
Correspondence
9 Feb
2026
Oral evidence
9 Feb
2026
Correspondence
12 Jan
2026
Oral evidence
21 Oct
2025
Correspondence
8 Sep
2025
Oral evidence
17 Jul
2025
Correspondence
Oral evidence sessions 4 sessions
9 Feb 2026
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Graeme Biggar CBE · National Crime Agency Rachael Herbert · National Crime Agency
12 Jan 2026
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Dr Sam Power · University of Bristol Duncan Hames · Transparency International UK Natasha Powell · Kraken Digital Asset Exchange Tom Keatinge · RUSI
8 Sep 2025
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The NSS - Political finance (inc. crypto)
Dr Susan Hawley · Spotlight on Corruption Ian Taylor · CryptoUK Jackie Killeen · Electoral Commission Peter Geoghegan · openDemocracy Vijay Rangarajan · Electoral Commission
17 Mar 2025
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Defending Democracy
Dan Jarvis MP · Home Office Nanyamka Brown · Department for Science, Innovation and Technology Shaun Hipgrave · Home Office The Baroness Jones of Whitchurch · Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
Title HC No. Published Items Response
3rd Report - Political finance and foreign influence HC 720 18 Mar 2026 23 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
4 results
Clear
13 Recommendation Accepted in Part
3rd Report - Political finance and…
The alternative version of Section 54A should reduce the declaration threshold of funds received in...
The alternative version of Section 54A should reduce the declaration threshold of funds received in connection with a donation to £500. This would limit the risk of foreign money being channelled through permissible donors. (Recommendation, Paragraph 93) Read more
Government Response
The government agrees with the objective and will amend Section 54A PPERA's threshold to align with a new declaration requirement for donations above a set amount, but does not commit to the specific £500 threshold.
Cabinet Office
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20 Recommendation Accepted in Part
3rd Report - Political finance and…
The Government should create a power for the Electoral Commission to compel financial institutions to...
The Government should create a power for the Electoral Commission to compel financial institutions to provide information relating to the source funds used in regulated political donations and regulated campaign spending. This power should also apply to crypto currency platforms. … Read more
Government Response
The government will extend the Electoral Commission's powers to require information disclosure outside formal investigations and enable information sharing with public authorities, but proposals for tools like Unexplained Wealth Orders require careful consideration and further engagement.
Cabinet Office
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21 Recommendation Accepted in Part
3rd Report - Political finance and…
The Electoral Commission and law enforcement should have powers to receive relevant information from HM...
The Electoral Commission and law enforcement should have powers to receive relevant information from HM Revenue and Customs in connection with an investigation into suspicions of foreign money. We further recommend exploring options to make better use of existing powers, … Read more
Government Response
The government will amend the Representation of the People Bill to enable the Electoral Commission to share and receive information from relevant public authorities, including HMRC, to support effective enforcement. However, proposals for Unexplained Wealth Orders require further detailed consideration with stakeholders.
Cabinet Office
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22 Recommendation Accepted in Part
3rd Report - Political finance and…
The Government’s legislative changes will only be meaningful if the Electoral Commission, police and National...
The Government’s legislative changes will only be meaningful if the Electoral Commission, police and National Crime Agency are adequately resourced to enforce the rules. (Conclusion, Paragraph 123)
Government Response
The government recognises the importance of adequately resourcing enforcement agencies but rejects the proposed mechanism of formalised annual resourcing updates to the Committee. It states that resourcing questions will be addressed as part of broader, system-wide reviews during the establishment of the new National Police Service.
Cabinet Office
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Government Response AI assessment · 23 of 20 classified
Accepted 13
Accepted in Part 4
Acknowledged 3
Deferred 2
Rejected 1
Total 20 recs + 3 conclusions
Correspondence 11 letters
23 Jun 2026 The Electoral Commission's response to the Committee's report on political finance and foreign influence, dated 20 May 2026
Parliament page
16 Mar 2026 To committee Response from the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government relating to political finance, dated 9 March
Parliament page
16 Mar 2026 From committee Letter to the Commissioner, Metropolitan Police relating to Political finance, dated 12 February, and their response, dated 5 March 2026
Parliament page
24 Feb 2026 To committee Letter from the Chair to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government relating to political finance, dated 23 February 2026
Parliament page
9 Feb 2026 To committee Letter from the Chair to Vijay Rangarajan, Chief Executive, Electoral Commission, dated 21 January 2026, relating to political finance, and the response, dated 5 February 2026
Parliament page
21 Oct 2025 Correspondence from Dan Jarvis MBE MP, Security Minister relating to the Defending Democracy Taskforce, dated 15 October 2025
Parliament page
17 Jul 2025 Correspondence to Dan Jarvis MBE MP, Security Minister relating to the Defending Democracy Taskforce, dated 16 July 2025
Parliament page
1 May 2025 From committee Letter to Ofcom on Defending Democracy and the Online Safety Act, dated 28 March 2025
Parliament page
1 May 2025 To committee Letter from Ofcom on Defending Democracy and the Online Safety Act, dated 23 April 2025
Parliament page
1 May 2025 Correspondence to Dan Jarvis MBE MP, Security Minister following oral evidence held on 17 March on Defending Democracy, dated 28 March 2025
Parliament page
1 May 2025 Correspondence from Dan Jarvis MBE MP, Security Minister following oral evidence held on 17 March on Defending Democracy, dated 16 April 2025
Parliament page