Urgent Review on Foreign Interference in UK Politics

As for POTUS dropping Europe and NATO, he has a point we should be able to defend ourselves without relying on the USA.

If you're talking about the UK there is absolutely no way we could defend ourselves on our own. We needed US help in both World Wars..

It makes a 'European Army' seem like a good idea now. But, heigh ho, we left the EU because of indications that that might be the next step... 'But we've got NATO' was the cry...

I think it s a2 pronged approach:

1) Sufficient investment in all branches of UK secret services to surveil and seek out evidence of COVERT foreign interference of whatever nature
2) Better safeguards in place to stop OVERT foreign influence in British politics and political parties that is playing out in plain sight. Subject to current review and requires vast tightening up.....

You're right MaizieD- we are so much more vulnerable in the UK following Brexit.

MaizieD and LemonJam the U.K. has never stopped collaborating with other EU countries militarily.

There are European personnel in joint headquarters here in the U.K., and vice versa.

Following Brexit and UK EU departure and the binding agreements regrading defence no longer in place resulted in a vacuum. It was not until May this year, 2025 that Starmer's government negotiated and agreed a formal Security and Defence Partnership (SDP).

It's a none binding framework, for regular "dialogue and consultations between UK and EU" on security matters. Positive, effective dialogue is therefore imperative. The partnership also paves the way for UK defence firms to bid for projects under the EU's 150 billion euros Security Action for Europe fund- as we had lost joint procurement access. We also of course lost access to that huge Security Action for Europe fund.

The UK will be invited to attend EU high level meetings on security and defence- subject of course to the relationship with the EU continuing to be effective and positive- as the SDP is not binding.

The post Brexit reality is that Boris agreed his Trade and Co-operation Agreement but he did NOT include Defence. Starmer has negotiated this SDP to bridge the gap.

I continue to hold my view that the loss of binding EU defence agreements and without access to the Security Action for Europe 150 billion euros fund the UK is more vulnerable than before Brexit.

Agreed Lemonjam.

IOMGran

Agreed Lemonjam.

Ditto

LemonJam

You're right MaizieD- we are so much more vulnerable in the UK following Brexit.

“AI Overview
Cambridge Analytica (CA) was a British political consulting firm that became globally infamous in 2018 for its involvement in a major data scandal involving the misappropriation of data from up to 87 million Facebook users. The company used this data for "psychographic" profiling and microtargeting in political campaigns, most notably the 2016 US presidential election and the Brexit referendum”.
As an example…

MayBee70

LemonJam

You're right MaizieD- we are so much more vulnerable in the UK following Brexit.

“AI Overview
Cambridge Analytica (CA) was a British political consulting firm that became globally infamous in 2018 for its involvement in a major data scandal involving the misappropriation of data from up to 87 million Facebook users. The company used this data for "psychographic" profiling and microtargeting in political campaigns, most notably the 2016 US presidential election and the Brexit referendum”.
As an example…

It was Carole Cadwalladr (sp?) who did all the investigation, on that and she continues doing a lot on Russia and connections to individuals in U.K. .

Was this why she was sued by Arron Banks?

Maremia

Was this why she was sued by Arron Banks?

Yes. Both Banks and Farage were implicated.

Carole Cadwalladr is an absolute legend, what journalists should aspire to.

She won her case. Think the Good Law Project supported her.
She went through a dreadful time.