Think Tanks: Funding

Baroness Foster of Aghadrumsee Excerpts

Wednesday 4th February 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Lab)]

I was hoping we would go for the dog rather than the spare bedroom.

As I have said, Philip Rycroft is looking at some of these issues of foreign interference in the round. There is a genuine issue, and my noble friend raises a genuinely important point about knowing who we are engaging with and why. We have seen in recent days, not least when I was in front of your Lordships’ House discussing it, why we need the espionage strategy, and to make sure people know who they are talking to and why. This is the case for lobbying as much as for think tanks, and we need to make sure the right regulatory environment is in place.

[Baroness Foster of Aghadrumsee (Non-Afl)]

My Lords, one of the previous questions to the noble Baroness was about all political parties having to declare where their sources of income are from. Of course, that is not the case: Sinn Féin does not have to declare this because it is an all-Ireland party. Can she confirm whether Philip Rycroft will look at this issue as well? It is an important issue, because Sinn Féin is standing in elections to the other place.

[Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Lab)]

I knew I was going to get that question. I would like to thank the noble Baroness for the question—I think. She is absolutely right, and I have had several meetings, including with the Election Commissioner for Northern Ireland, about some of the things operating in this space. I will talk to the noble Baroness outside your Lordships’ House, but I will also write to her with any specific details.