"My Lords, it is for each individual think tank to publicise and declare their sources of funding. Think tanks with charitable status must follow Charity Commission guidance, ensuring political activity remains subsidiary and exclusively furthers their charitable purposes. The Government are committed to responding to threats of foreign interference in …..." Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - View Speech
"I am not sure there was a question in there, but I will take the opportunity to reassure your Lordships that, just as CC9 guidance for the Charity Commission applies to every charity, regardless of their charitable objectives, and just as the electoral law applies to every third-party campaigner, the …..." Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - View Speech
"I thank the noble Baroness for her question. I am afraid I am not in a position to update her on the timescale or the development of those talks, but I will make sure that she gets an answer...." Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - View Speech
"The noble Lord will be aware that last year, we published our anti-corruption strategy, which outlined the risks posed by corrupt actors who are seeking to influence UK institutions or launder their reputations by engaging in some organisations. As I have said before from this Dispatch Box, we have also …..." Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - View Speech
"I thank the noble Lord for his work in this space to make sure that we have faith and trust in the many democratic institutions that are part of the wider ecosystem. On the substance of his question, electoral law already covers think tanks that donate or spend during regulated …..." Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - View Speech
"I hate to disappoint the noble Baroness, but I cannot and will not. To be very clear, while I appreciate and have worked directly with think tanks—as I think most Members of your Lordships’ House have—and sat on panels and engaged with them, the reality is that if a regulatory …..." Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - View Speech
"I was hoping we would go for the dog rather than the spare bedroom.
As I have said, Philip Rycroft is looking at some of these issues of foreign interference in the round. There is a genuine issue, and my noble friend raises a genuinely important point about knowing who …..." Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - View Speech
"My Lords, if a think tank is a charity, it is subject to regulation by the Charity Commission. If it is engaging in election activity, it is subject to the Electoral Commission for any spend over £10,000 and donations over £700. But the noble Lord raises an important point, which …..." Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - View Speech
"I knew I was going to get that question. I would like to thank the noble Baroness for the question—I think. She is absolutely right, and I have had several meetings, including with the Election Commissioner for Northern Ireland, about some of the things operating in this space. I will …..." Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - View Speech