Cat Smith
Main Page: Cat Smith (Labour - Lancaster and Wyre)Department Debates - View all Cat Smith's debates with the Cabinet Office
(2 days ago)
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The Prime Minister
My right hon. Friend the First Secretary of State is leading a task and finish group on cleaning up politics, and I am sure that she would be very pleased to hear from the hon. Member on her proposals.
Cat Smith (Lancaster and Wyre) (Lab)
On 26 October 2021, when the Conservative Government’s Elections Bill was going through its Public Bill Committee, I was the shadow Minister, and I tabled a new clause relating to foreign interference in politics. The Minister then responsible for keeping our democracy safe replied in Committee that she had not read the Russia report and asked me to explain it to her. Does the Prime Minister share my concern that the Minister, now Leader of the Opposition, may not be fully across the details?
The Prime Minister
I was not aware of that, but I am aware that the Russia report says that
“written evidence provided to us appeared to suggest that HMG”—
I think that was Her Majesty’s Government at the time—
“had not seen or sought evidence of successful interference in UK democratic processes”.
That is indefensible. This Government will not make that mistake. We will ensure that we defend British democracy in the next decade as it was not defended in the last.