On Tuesday morning, the Housing, Communities and Local Government committee continues their modernising elections inquiry with questions to Philip Rycroft, author of the independent review into countering foreign financial influence and interference in UK politics.
\r\nThe cross-party group of MPs will also question a panel of political finance, corruption and election experts (full witness list below) as the committee assesses the government’s proposals for political finance reform and considers how these can be strengthened.
\r\nMPs will examine topics including the moratorium on crypto donations, company donations, party spending limits, enforcement and whether the government is geared up to deal with the nature of the challenges that democracy in the UK now faces.
","secondaryDescription":"The Rycroft review was published on 25 March 2026 and found that “The UK is a target of long-term strategic foreign interference and espionage from elements of the Russian, Chinese and Iranian states which, in different ways, seek to further their economic and strategic interests and cause harm to our democratic institutions.”
\r\nPhilip Rycroft found that the number of donations that have had to be returned as impermissible is increasing. Rycroft described his report as “ringing the alarm bell” and said that: “If the Government does not act swiftly to gear up to counter these threats, there is a real risk they will run away from us […] the price of freedom is eternal vigilance”.
\r\nThe Rycroft review was published on 25 March 2026. The full review, including a summary of the 17 recommendations that Rycroft makes is available here.
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