Independent review into foreign interference announced after months of Plaid Cymru pressure
Plaid Cymru welcome announcement but raise concerns about whether changes will be implemented by May Senedd elections
Plaid Cymru has welcomed the announcement of an independent review into foreign financial interference in UK politics following the jailing of Nathan Gill, the former leader of Reform UK in Wales, for accepting bribes to promote pro-Russian propaganda.
Plaid Cymru had consistently raised the issue of foreign interference in Parliament and called on the UK Government to conduct an investigation. However, the UK Government avoided committing to a Government-led investigation, stating that it was Nigel Farage’s responsibility, despite being questioned repeatedly by Plaid Cymru between October and early December.
Plaid Cymru MPs have consistently raised the issue of Russian interference in Parliament:
- 13 October 2025 – Liz Saville Roberts MP called for transparency and urged the Government to publish the names of individuals interviewed by counter-terrorism police in connection with the Nathan Gill bribery case.
- 20 October 2025 – Llinos Medi MP questioned the Minister on the steps being taken to prevent Russian interference in Welsh politics.
- 25 November 2025 – Ann Davies MP asked the Prime Minister about the inadequacy of draft security guarantees regarding Russia and what measures are being implemented to strengthen the UK’s resilience against Russian interference.
- 26 November 2025 – Liz Saville Roberts MP challenged the Prime Minister on the lack of a full investigation into foreign interference in UK democracy.
- 4 December 2025 – Llinos Medi MP called for an independent review into Russian interference in democratic processes.
The review, led by former senior civil servant Philip Rycroft, is due to report in March 2026. Communities Secretary Steve Reed has said it will conduct an “in-depth assessment of the current financial rules and safeguards and offer recommendations to further mitigate risks from foreign political interference.”
Plaid Cymru has raised concerns that this gives little time to enact any changes ahead of the
Independent review into foreign interference announced after months of Plaid Cymru pressure
Plaid Cymru welcome announcement but raise concerns about whether changes will be implemented by May Senedd elections
Plaid Cymru has welcomed the announcement of an independent review into foreign financial interference in UK politics following the jailing of Nathan Gill, the former leader of Reform UK in Wales, for accepting bribes to promote pro-Russian propaganda.
Plaid Cymru had consistently raised the issue of foreign interference in Parliament and called on the UK Government to conduct an investigation. However, the UK Government avoided committing to a Government-led investigation, stating that it was Nigel Farage’s responsibility, despite being questioned repeatedly by Plaid Cymru between October and early December.
Plaid Cymru MPs have consistently raised the issue of Russian interference in Parliament:
- 13 October 2025 – Liz Saville Roberts MP called for transparency and urged the Government to publish the names of individuals interviewed by counter-terrorism police in connection with the Nathan Gill bribery case.
- 20 October 2025 – Llinos Medi MP questioned the Minister on the steps being taken to prevent Russian interference in Welsh politics.
- 25 November 2025 – Ann Davies MP asked the Prime Minister about the inadequacy of draft security guarantees regarding Russia and what measures are being implemented to strengthen the UK’s resilience against Russian interference.
- 26 November 2025 – Liz Saville Roberts MP challenged the Prime Minister on the lack of a full investigation into foreign interference in UK democracy.
- 4 December 2025 – Llinos Medi MP called for an independent review into Russian interference in democratic processes.
The review, led by former senior civil servant Philip Rycroft, is due to report in March 2026. Communities Secretary Steve Reed has said it will conduct an “in-depth assessment of the current financial rules and safeguards and offer recommendations to further mitigate risks from foreign political interference.”
Plaid Cymru has raised concerns that this gives little time to enact any changes ahead of the
Independent review into foreign interference announced after months of Plaid Cymru pressure
Plaid Cymru welcome announcement but raise concerns about whether changes will be implemented by May Senedd elections
Plaid Cymru has welcomed the announcement of an independent review into foreign financial interference in UK politics following the jailing of Nathan Gill, the former leader of Reform UK in Wales, for accepting bribes to promote pro-Russian propaganda.
Plaid Cymru had consistently raised the issue of foreign interference in Parliament and called on the UK Government to conduct an investigation. However, the UK Government avoided committing to a Government-led investigation, stating that it was Nigel Farage’s responsibility, despite being questioned repeatedly by Plaid Cymru between October and early December.
Plaid Cymru MPs have consistently raised the issue of Russian interference in Parliament:
- 13 October 2025 – Liz Saville Roberts MP called for transparency and urged the Government to publish the names of individuals interviewed by counter-terrorism police in connection with the Nathan Gill bribery case.
- 20 October 2025 – Llinos Medi MP questioned the Minister on the steps being taken to prevent Russian interference in Welsh politics.
- 25 November 2025 – Ann Davies MP asked the Prime Minister about the inadequacy of draft security guarantees regarding Russia and what measures are being implemented to strengthen the UK’s resilience against Russian interference.
- 26 November 2025 – Liz Saville Roberts MP challenged the Prime Minister on the lack of a full investigation into foreign interference in UK democracy.
- 4 December 2025 – Llinos Medi MP called for an independent review into Russian interference in democratic processes.
The review, led by former senior civil servant Philip Rycroft, is due to report in March 2026. Communities Secretary Steve Reed has said it will conduct an “in-depth assessment of the current financial rules and safeguards and offer recommendations to further mitigate risks from foreign political interference.”
Plaid Cymru has raised concerns that this gives little time to enact any changes ahead of the May 2026 Senedd elections.
Speaking during the statement announcing the review on 16 December, Plaid Cymru MP Ann Davies said:
“Following the sentencing of the former Reform Wales leader for taking bribes to peddle pro-Russian propaganda, we welcome this review. Thank you.
“But Plaid Cymru has been calling for action in Westminster and the Senedd for months, only to be repeatedly dismissed by this Labour Government, which even left it to Reform's own leader to police his party.
“Unfortunately, because of the Government's delay, there is now no time to implement reforms before the 2026 Senedd elections. Will the Minister set out exactly what steps are being taken to protect Welsh democracy from foreign interference before next year?”
Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Steve Reed MP, responded:
“I thank her for her question. Safeguards are already in place, of course, but the fact that the review will report in March means it will come ahead of the elections. Not only members of this House, but voters across the country, will want to know that the safeguards against malign foreign financial interference in the coming elections are sufficiently robust to ensure they are free and fair.”
Speaking during the statement announcing the review on 16 December, Plaid Cymru MP Ann Davies said:
“Following the sentencing of the former Reform Wales leader for taking bribes to peddle pro-Russian propaganda, we welcome this review. Thank you.
“But Plaid Cymru has been calling for action in Westminster and the Senedd for months, only to be repeatedly dismissed by this Labour Government, which even left it to Reform's own leader to police his party.
“Unfortunately, because of the Government's delay, there is now no time to implement reforms before the 2026 Senedd elections. Will the Minister set out exactly what steps are being taken to protect Welsh democracy from foreign interference before next year?”
Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Steve Reed MP, responded:
“I thank her for her question. Safeguards are already in place, of course, but the fact that the review will report in March means it will come ahead of the elections. Not only members of this House, but voters across the country, will want to know that the safeguards against malign foreign financial interference in the coming elections are sufficiently robust to ensure they are free and fair.”
Speaking during the statement announcing the review on 16 December, Plaid Cymru MP Ann Davies said:
“Following the sentencing of the former Reform Wales leader for taking bribes to peddle pro-Russian propaganda, we welcome this review. Thank you.
“But Plaid Cymru has been calling for action in Westminster and the Senedd for months, only to be repeatedly dismissed by this Labour Government, which even left it to Reform's own leader to police his party.
“Unfortunately, because of the Government's delay, there is now no time to implement reforms before the 2026 Senedd elections. Will the Minister set out exactly what steps are being taken to protect Welsh democracy from foreign interference before next year?”
Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Steve Reed MP, responded:
“I thank her for her question. Safeguards are already in place, of course, but the fact that the review will report in March means it will come ahead of the elections. Not only members of this House, but voters across the country, will want to know that the safeguards against malign foreign financial interference in the coming elections are sufficiently robust to ensure they are free and fair.”