UK announces independent probe into foreign interference in politics

Minister says probe successful effect to lawsuit of ex-Reform UK lawmaker Nathan Gill, jailed for taking pro-Russia bribes.

The United Kingdom is launching an autarkic probe into overseas interference successful British politics, conscionable weeks aft a erstwhile Reform UK lawmaker was jailed for much than 10 years for taking bribes to marque pro-Russia statements.

Steve Reed, the UK’s caput of authorities for housing, communities and section government, said connected Tuesday that helium had ordered the probe successful effect to the lawsuit of Nathan Gill, a erstwhile Member of the European Parliament and ex-leader of Reform UK successful Wales.

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“A British person took bribes to further the interests of the Russian regime,” Reed said successful the House of Commons. “This behaviour is simply a stain connected our democracy. The autarkic reappraisal volition enactment to region that stain.”

Gill was sentenced to 10 years and six months successful situation connected November 21.

He pleaded blameworthy successful September to accepting thousands of euros from a pro-Russian person successful Ukraine betwixt 2018 and 2019, and making scripted statements and tv appearances astatine his behest.

The lawsuit had spurred wide condemnation from crossed the governmental spectrum, with Nigel Farage’s Reform UK enactment – which has been starring astir polls – past period describing Gill’s actions arsenic “reprehensible, treasonous and unforgivable”.

On Tuesday, Conservative MP Paul Holmes welcomed the autarkic reappraisal into overseas interference arsenic a indispensable step.

“Protecting the integrity of our antiauthoritarian strategy from overseas interference is not a partisan issue. It goes to the bosom of nationalist spot successful our elections,” Holmes told the House.

“Interference successful our elections from overseas actors is thing that we indispensable each beryllium vigilant against.”

Reed, the lodging minister, said the autarkic probe would beryllium led by Philip Rycroft, erstwhile UK imperishable caput for the Department for Exiting the European Union.

“The intent of the reappraisal is to supply an in-depth appraisal of the existent fiscal rules and safeguards and marque recommendations,” said Reed, adding that Rycroft has been asked to study his findings to the authorities by the extremity of March.

The curate noted that the British authorities enactment guardant a strategy “for modern and unafraid elections” earlier this twelvemonth successful a propulsion to code overseas interference and nationalist distrust successful the electoral system, among different issues.

But Reed said connected Tuesday that “events person shown that we request to see whether our firewall is enough”.

“The autarkic reappraisal volition look astatine this,” helium said, including by evaluating the UK’s existing governmental concern laws, systems to place and mitigate overseas interference, and safeguards against illicit backing streams.