3rd Report - Political finance and foreign influence
Select Committee
National Security Strategy (Joint Committee)
HC 720
18 March 2026
Government response
2nd Special Report - Political finance and foreign influence: Government and Electoral Commission responses · published 15 Jul 2026
Recommendations & Conclusions
3 results
2
Recommendation
Acknowledged
The governance and accountability arrangements for criminal enforcement of illegal political finance interference are inadequate.
Recommendation
The governance and accountability arrangements for criminal enforcement of illegal political finance interference are inadequate. Responsibilities and capabilities are dispersed across the Electoral Commission, the Metropolitan Police Service, Counter Terrorism Policing, MI5, the National Crime Agency, the National Police Chiefs’ …
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Government Response Summary
The government agrees on the vital need for appropriate structures to allow enforcement agencies to operate effectively. It states that the establishment of the new National Police Service provides an opportunity to strengthen capabilities and will consider how different functions could be brought together through forthcoming reforms.
Cabinet Office
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3
Recommendation
Acknowledged
The Government should establish a centralised Political Finance Enforcement Unit.
Recommendation
The Government should establish a centralised Political Finance Enforcement Unit. This should be a joint unit, which could be housed in the National Crime Agency. It should hold the overall national lead and accountability for proactive assessments and criminal investigations …
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Government Response Summary
The government agrees on the need for policing to have specialist expertise, coordination, and national capacity for investigating political finance. It will use the establishment of the new National Police Service as an opportunity to strengthen and formalise capabilities, considering how functions could be brought together, but does not commit to establishing a specific unit.
Cabinet Office
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4
Recommendation
Acknowledged
The Unit should have formalised information sharing agreements with the parent organisations of participating personnel,...
Recommendation
The Unit should have formalised information sharing agreements with the parent organisations of participating personnel, to ensure the parent organisation’s powers may be deployed during the course of investigations. (Recommendation, Paragraph 48) Crypto
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Government Response Summary
The government agrees on the need for effective structures and resources and will consider strengthening and formalising capabilities, including how functions could be brought together, as part of establishing the new National Police Service.
Cabinet Office
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