Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department's consultation entitled Protecting the Debate: Intimidating, Influence and Information sought views on protecting the UK electoral system from overseas interference.

The first duty of Government is to safeguard the nation, and we take the security and integrity of our democratic processes very seriously.

The Government’s consultation Protecting the Debate: Intimidation, Influence and Information sought views on a proposed new electoral offence of intimidating a candidate or campaigner, clarifying the offence of undue influence and whether the requirement for imprints should be extended to electronic material. The consultation did not seek views on protecting the UK electoral system from overseas interference specifically.

The Cabinet Office co-ordinates cross-Government work to protect our democracy and to ensure the public’s confidence in our elections.