Mentions:
1: None I thank the Electoral Commission for drawing the Government’s attention to this point of law and for - Speech Link
2: None Lord also expresses regret in respect of the effect of increasing reporting thresholds on reducing the transparency - Speech Link
3: Lord Rennard (LD - Life peer) reach voters by current expense limits, and the effect of increasing reporting thresholds on reducing transparency - Speech Link
4: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green - Life peer) say what is often considered the unsayable: we need state funding of political parties and election campaigning - Speech Link
5: Lord Khan of Burnley (Lab - Life peer) expenses incurred to protect candidates, their families and supporters to be seen as part of the cost of campaigning - Speech Link
Asked by: Matt Vickers (Conservative - Stockton South)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that UK elections are not affected by political interference by (a) China and (b) other countries.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
It is, and always will be, an absolute priority for this government to protect our democratic and electoral processes against foreign interference.
Last year, the Prime Minister established the Defending Democracy Taskforce to protect the democratic integrity of the UK from threats of foreign influence. Its mission is to reduce the risk to the UK’s democratic processes, institutions and society, and ensure that these are secure and resilient to threats of foreign interference.
In addition, the National Security Act 2023 creates a new offence of foreign interference. This will make it an offence to illegitimately influence the UK’s democratic processes and elected officials on behalf of a foreign power. The offence will also significantly increase sentences for electoral offences if they are carried out on behalf of a foreign power. Related measures in the Online Safety Bill will require digital platforms to proactively take action against a wide range of state-sponsored disinformation and state-linked online interference, including digitally manipulated content, where this has the aim of interfering with UK elections.
The Elections Act 2022 strengthened three important components of the political finance framework: fairness, transparency and controls against foreign spending. Since its introduction, the Government has restricted foreign campaign spending at elections and introduced a new requirement on political parties to declare their assets and liabilities over £500 upon registration. Foreign donations (and channelling foreign money) are already illegal. The Act also ensures greater transparency on digital campaigning, through the introduction of digital imprints.
Mar. 30 2010
Source Page: Inter-Party Talks on Funding of Political Parties 2007: agendas, papers and minutes. 156 p.Found: It might be possible to intr oduce more quickly greater individual choice and transparency.
Mentions:
1: Baroness Penn (Con - Life peer) I know that he has been a great advocate for simplifying and consolidating electoral law. - Speech Link
2: Lord Harries of Pentregarth (XB - Life peer) Have the Government reviewed what non-political campaigning groups are able to spend at election time - Speech Link
3: Baroness Penn (Con - Life peer) We have procedures in place to ensure that there is transparency over those donations and, as we are - Speech Link
4: Lord Sikka (Lab - Life peer) In the interests of transparency, would the Minister consider introducing a law to require political - Speech Link
5: Baroness Penn (Con - Life peer) We have transparency in our system so that people can see who donates to political parties. - Speech Link
Mentions:
1: Patricia Gibson (SNP - North Ayrshire and Arran) transparency of election finance from overseas. - Speech Link
2: Cat Smith (Lab - Lancaster and Fleetwood) The commission publishes information about donations to ensure transparency, and has powers to sanction - Speech Link
3: Cat Smith (Lab - Lancaster and Fleetwood) commission’s regulatory remit is focused on ensuring that political finance is transparent and that campaigning - Speech Link
4: Cat Smith (Lab - Lancaster and Fleetwood) campaign material, it is working with other organisations to try to support responsible and transparent campaigning - Speech Link
Found: Electoral reform in Scotland and the Scottish Elections (Representation and Reform) Bill
Found: Electoral reform in Scotland and the Scottish Elections (Representation and Reform) Bill
Written Evidence Mar. 26 2024
Inquiry: Defending DemocracyFound: Taskforce could do before upcoming elections to protect political parties, elected officials and core electoral
Mentions:
1: Jacob Young (Con - Redcar) Thresholds) Order 2023.The lack of change in absolute terms impacts campaigning ability, given the increased - Speech Link
Written Evidence May. 29 2024
Inquiry: Defending DemocracyFound: DED0027 - Defending Democracy Transparency International UK Written Evidence