Democracy Minister Rushanara Ali is taking action to safeguard against foreign political interference with a set of new measures in the works. Concerns arose in the UK when reports surfaced that tech billionaire Elon Musk, an adviser to US President Donald Trump, could potentially donate a significant amount to Reform UK through a UK branch of his social media company X.
A public petition garnered over 142,000 signatures, calling for the removal of loopholes that permit wealthy foreign individuals to donate to UK political parties. This led to a debate among MPs, with the head of the elections watchdog urging the government to urgently address legal gaps around foreign donations to UK political entities.
During a Westminster Hall debate, Labour MP Irene Campbell highlighted the need for tighter regulations, citing the potential donation from Elon Musk as an example. Other MPs expressed concerns about foreign interference in UK politics, especially with regards to possible donations from Musk or alleged connections between Farage and foreign entities like Russia, China, and Iran. Ali addressed these worries, emphasizing the importance of fortifying safeguards against foreign donations, including those channeled through UK companies.
Ali outlined plans for new measures to enhance protection against foreign interference, such as implementing stricter checks for donation recipients and imposing tighter controls on donors. Despite these proposals, Ali clarified that there are no intentions to restrict donation sizes or prevent funds from foreign nationals with legitimate ties to the UK. The aim is to maintain the ability of political parties to raise necessary funds while ensuring transparency and security in the process
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