Urgent Review on Foreign Interference in UK Politics

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

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

Maremia

Was this why she was sued by Arron Banks?

Yes. Both Banks and Farage were implicated.

Was this why she was sued by Arron Banks?

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. .

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…

IOMGran

Agreed Lemonjam.

Ditto

Agreed Lemonjam.

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.

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.

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

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.....

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...

GrannyGravy13

petra

Casdon

I’m most concerned about the influences we don’t yet know about. There is obviously a lot going on in the background, or we would not be getting these warnings about threats from Russia. I suspect there will be some big exposures, it is going to be a very difficult time ahead.

It’s not the names that every man and his dog are aware of, it’s those you don’t.

www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/nov/10/mps-to-examine-chinese-state-influence-british-universities

Definitely more below the surface, than those found on top.

Yes, I mentioned the influences of China further up the thread.

I don’t think we should be looking at this issue from our own party political perspective, that is small beer compared with our democratic systems being interfered with by foreign powers. I would support the need for more resources to understand and expose the malevolent influences, I think it is essential to weed them out.

CariadAgain

Thinks - I'm now thinking "There's my googling for the day I guess 1. The history of that group in our Parliament (ie those Friends of Israel and seeing who is in it - besides Rachel Reeves - who has admitted she is!!!!) 2. How things were in that respect pre World War 2 (re other countries interfering besides the usual culprit - ie America) 3. What info. I can find tieing in the 1930s Great Depression and the "resurgence" of the economy at around that time courtesy of going onto a war footing (loadsa money to the arms manufacturers etc then).

Finding any objective books and/or videos should be fun - not! - given the victor writes the history books to suit their perception on things. Wishes again that I spoke more than literally a few words of any of the Scandinavian countries - so I could look up what their info. has to say on all this.....(ie best chance of an objective view I can think of).

Get the Google translate app. Problem solved.

GG13 has clarified she wasn't posting that she believed the UK was interfering in other countries politics.

I don't understand what question you are asking of me Petra- sorry.

petra

Casdon

I’m most concerned about the influences we don’t yet know about. There is obviously a lot going on in the background, or we would not be getting these warnings about threats from Russia. I suspect there will be some big exposures, it is going to be a very difficult time ahead.

It’s not the names that every man and his dog are aware of, it’s those you don’t.

www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/nov/10/mps-to-examine-chinese-state-influence-british-universities

Definitely more below the surface, than those found on top.

An investigation by the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command led to Reform Nathan Gill being jailed for taking Russian bribes- i.e foreign interference in UK politics.

Thats how the secret services work...

LemonJam

GrannyGravy13- do you really believe the UK is interfering in the POLITICS of other countries?

If so in which countries and in what way specifically?

So you really expect someone to divulge that info if they had the information 😂

Thanks for your clarification GG13.

It has long been the case that secret services, in most countries gather intelligence about foreign threats, terrorism, cyber atttacks etc.

In light of this post, Casdon, yes I am very concerned about the growing prevalence of foreign interference in UK politics- such interference fundamentally threatens our democracy.

Casdon

I’m most concerned about the influences we don’t yet know about. There is obviously a lot going on in the background, or we would not be getting these warnings about threats from Russia. I suspect there will be some big exposures, it is going to be a very difficult time ahead.

It’s not the names that every man and his dog are aware of, it’s those you don’t.

www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/nov/10/mps-to-examine-chinese-state-influence-british-universities

A very worthwhile investigation. I hope they consider all political parties and MPs ( even if foreign donations have been declared) and to what extent governmental bodies have been penetrated or compromised as well as deceptive messages on social media from bad actors. Although a March 26 deadline has been set that shoukd merely be an interim report and the work carried on as long as it takes.

LemonJam

GrannyGravy13- do you really believe the UK is interfering in the POLITICS of other countries?

If so in which countries and in what way specifically?

That isn’t what I posted LemonJam

The U.K. has an active secret service, and we do not know what, where and why they operate.

Thinks - I'm now thinking "There's my googling for the day I guess 1. The history of that group in our Parliament (ie those Friends of Israel and seeing who is in it - besides Rachel Reeves - who has admitted she is!!!!) 2. How things were in that respect pre World War 2 (re other countries interfering besides the usual culprit - ie America) 3. What info. I can find tieing in the 1930s Great Depression and the "resurgence" of the economy at around that time courtesy of going onto a war footing (loadsa money to the arms manufacturers etc then).

Finding any objective books and/or videos should be fun - not! - given the victor writes the history books to suit their perception on things. Wishes again that I spoke more than literally a few words of any of the Scandinavian countries - so I could look up what their info. has to say on all this.....(ie best chance of an objective view I can think of).