Elections: Foreign Interference

Melanie Ward, the Labour MP for Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy, asked the Minister of State at the Home Department, Dan Jarvis, what steps the government is taking to prevent foreign interference in elections. Jarvis responded that protecting the UK's democratic integrity is a government priority, and that established processes are in place, including the National Security Act 2023, which provides security services and law enforcement agencies with the tools to tackle state threats. Jarvis also mentioned that the Home Secretary and he had convened the defending democracy taskforce to consider any issues arising from the recent general election. In a follow-up, Ward expressed concern about delays in the postal voting system experienced by some of her constituents, and hoped that lessons would be learned. She asked Jarvis to update the House on the work of the defending democracy taskforce and explain the efforts being made to protect the wider democratic system from both domestic and foreign malign interference, including misinformation. Jarvis acknowledged Ward's concerns and stated that the defending democracy taskforce had met for the first time under the new government on 25 July. He explained that the taskforce brings together ministers from across government, along with representatives from law enforcement and the intelligence community, to address the full range of threats to the UK's democracy. Sir Julian Lewis, the Conservative MP for New Forest East, then intervened, warmly welcoming Jarvis's appointment and agreeing that steps must be taken to ensure that the proceeds of kleptocracy in countries such as Russia are not used to infect democratic political parties in the UK and elsewhere. Jarvis acknowledged Lewis's expertise and experience on these matters, and agreed with his assessment.