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
2 results
1
Recommendation
Deferred
The risk of foreign influence in the UK’s political finance system is real.
Recommendation
The risk of foreign influence in the UK’s political finance system is real. We believe the threat is likely to grow out to the next election, particularly as the value of influencing the UK’s position on international policy increases. The …
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Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the report's concerns and states that its comprehensive response, detailing actions to strengthen safeguards against foreign interference in political finance, has been published in response to the Rycroft Review.
Cabinet Office
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16
Recommendation
Deferred
The Government should amend the Representation of the People Bill to increase maximum custodial sentences...
Recommendation
The Government should amend the Representation of the People Bill to increase maximum custodial sentences to three years for the most serious breaches of political finance laws involving impermissible foreign money. This would improve deterrence and also enable law enforcement …
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Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the importance of the issue but states that increasing maximum custodial sentences raises complex issues that cannot be fully developed within the Representation of the People Bill's timeframes, committing instead to further analysis and targeted consultation.
Cabinet Office
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