Samantha Dixon MP: speeches

Speeches

• 6 Jul 2026 · Foreign Interference in UK Politics · Hansard source

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  The reporting in The Sunday Times was clearly concerning for all of us in the House. What I would say is that, as I set out in my statement earlier, there are a number of agencies that deal with the regulation, enforcement and potential legal action that may be necessary in cases that involve illegal behaviour. I will go no further than that, although my hon. Friend tempts me, but I will just say that I am sure those organisations will be paying very close attention to the media reports over the weekend.

• 6 Jul 2026 · Foreign Interference in UK Politics · Hansard source

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  I pay tribute to my hon. Friend for her tenacity in this field. She has worked really hard to highlight and bring to the surface these issues, and she has taken the time to meet with the Electoral Commission, Philip Rycroft and me. I am very grateful to her for sharing her experience and for contributing to this debate. I agree that this is work that must continue. It will not stop because we are legislating now. We are working across Government, and we continue to work relentlessly to keep our democracy safe.

• 6 Jul 2026 · Foreign Interference in UK Politics · Hansard source

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  I am not going to comment on individual Members without having notified them in advance, but I note my hon. Friend’s comments.

• 6 Jul 2026 · Foreign Interference in UK Politics · Hansard source

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  The hon. Gentleman is right to point to the “know your donor” arrangements that will come in through the Representation of the People Bill and the way those rules will be tightened through the Rycroft review recommendations. It is an important point, and I may come back to him in writing.

• 6 Jul 2026 · Foreign Interference in UK Politics · Hansard source

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  Madam Deputy Speaker, I wonder which question the hon. Member would like me to answer most pressingly. On working across Government, yes, we do take this extremely seriously, and the work will not stop just because we have successfully completed stages of the Bill. The work is ongoing, and with our partners across Government we will continually monitor interference in our political system and act against it. On that particular platform, I am sure this is being considered, but I am not going to make a commitment at the Dispatch Box.

• 6 Jul 2026 · Foreign Interference in UK Politics · Hansard source

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  I agree with my hon. Friend that the priority is to protect our political system from interference by foreign powers, including Russia. We will always continue to hold Russia to account and to counter the threat posed by Putin’s regime, and we will work at pace across Government to support that work—and not just in the Representation of the People Bill or as a response to the review, but continuously.

• 6 Jul 2026 · Foreign Interference in UK Politics · Hansard source

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  My hon. Friend raises a particularly important point: it is essential that enforcement follows on from the legislation that we enact here. We are working with colleagues in the Home Office on policing and with the Electoral Commission to ensure that that enforcement is robust and well resourced.

• 6 Jul 2026 · Foreign Interference in UK Politics · Hansard source

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  I thank my hon. Friend for her contribution. As I said previously, it is the Government’s view that there is a place in UK political finance for legitimate donations and we do not intend to introduce a cap.

• 6 Jul 2026 · Foreign Interference in UK Politics · Hansard source

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  The Government’s intention is to table amendments to the Representation of the People Bill following today’s statement. Report and Third Reading will take place next week, so we will be moving forward at pace.

• 6 Jul 2026 · Foreign Interference in UK Politics · Hansard source

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  My hon. Friend raises an important point. We will be working across the Benches to develop a donor declaration that will set out where exactly money has come from. We need to proceed on that with care and collaboration to ensure that when a donation is given, it is clear where exactly it is coming from. I agree with him entirely.

• 6 Jul 2026 · Foreign Interference in UK Politics · Hansard source

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  Any political party that abides by the rules the Government are introducing will be able to flourish in our political system. Those that do not can expect to be held firmly to account.

• 6 Jul 2026 · Foreign Interference in UK Politics · Hansard source

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  I do not accept the right hon. Gentleman’s characterisation of this. The political parties have been consulted through the Electoral Commission panel, and we will continue to work with them as we move forward.

• 6 Jul 2026 · Foreign Interference in UK Politics · Hansard source

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  The right hon. and learned Gentleman is absolutely correct. Through the Representation of the People Bill, we will take forward measures to address that.

• 6 Jul 2026 · Foreign Interference in UK Politics · Hansard source

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  I thank my hon. Friend for his comments. The measures that I have set out today on overseas electors and residents returning to Britain from overseas should provide some of the certainty he is looking for so that his constituents can feel confident that our system is safe.