Foreign Financial Influence and Interference: UK Politics

Debate between Rachel Blake and Steve Reed

Wednesday 25th March 2026 Commons Chamber

[Steve Reed]

No; to reassure the hon. Gentleman, the provisions I have announced today apply to the entire United Kingdom, with immediate effect.

[Rachel Blake (Cities of London and Westminster) (Lab/Co-op)]

I strongly welcome the review and I thank the Secretary of State for commissioning it. I have heard what he has said about considering the recommendations in detail. I draw his attention to paragraph 75, which states:

“there are no reporting requirements for campaign spending outside regulated periods for either non-party campaigners or candidates. This means that there is no transparency around what is spent, or around the donations being used to fund this spending, outside of regulated periods.”

We go out of the regulated period again in six weeks’ time. Will the Secretary of State consider the urgency of that particular recommendation for dealing with the regulated period? More broadly, does he agree that it is our democratic duty to take the report seriously, and that political parties that do not take the report, and transparency and democracy, seriously have no role in this Parliament and no decency in representing their constituents?

[Steve Reed]

There are clear recommendations about non-party campaigns and candidates, and we will be making our response to those recommendations in due course. The only recommendations I am bringing into force immediately are those that I referred to in my statement.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Rachel Blake and Steve Reed

Thursday 8th May 2025 Commons Chamber

[Steve Reed]

I am sure that the hon. Lady will be reassured to hear that the Government have ringfenced money that is earmarked for investment in water infrastructure so that it can no longer be diverted for payments on bonuses and dividends. If water companies attempt to do anything of the kind, the money will be refunded to their customers through a discount on their bills.

[Rachel Blake (Cities of London and Westminster) (Lab/Co-op)]

3. Whether he is taking steps to limit increases to water bills.