N※N

UK Faces New Era of Foreign Interference: Nathan Gill's Review Paints Stark Picture

  //politics-government.news-articles.net/content/ .. e-nathan-gill-s-review-paints-stark-picture.html
  Published in Politics and Government on Tuesday, December 16th 2025 at 10:15 GMT by The Independent
      Locale: England, UNITED KINGDOM

UK faces a new era of foreign interference – Nathan Gill’s review paints a stark picture

A sweeping review into the threat of foreign influence in the United Kingdom, carried out by former High Court judge Nathan Gill, has been published on the Independent’s news bulletin. The report, released on 23 June 2024, is the first comprehensive, independent assessment of the state of foreign interference in Britain since the 2018–19 UK intelligence‑and‑security‑committee findings and has already sparked a vigorous debate among lawmakers, civil‑society groups and security professionals.

The review’s mandate and scope

Commissioned by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), the review was tasked with mapping out the evidence of foreign interference, evaluating the UK’s response mechanisms, and identifying gaps in legislation, policy and practice. The final report, freely available in PDF form on the Independent’s site (link: https://www.independent.co.uk/bulletin/news/foreign-interference-nathan-gill-review-b2885558.html), is a six‑hour reading for most, but the Independent has distilled its most critical findings into an accessible article.

Key findings: a multi‑vector threat landscape

1. Foreign actors, especially China and Russia, use a mix of “hard” and “soft” power. The review points to coordinated cyber‑attacks, state‑backed media propaganda, financial enticements and influence over political donations as the most common vectors.
2. The UK’s existing legal framework is fragmented. While the Foreign Agents law of 2016, the Communications Act and the Political Parties, Elections & Referendums Act offer some protection, the review shows that gaps in enforcement and clarity make it difficult for law‑enforcement agencies to prosecute and prevent interference.
3. Data protection and cyber‑security are weak links. The review highlights the lack of a unified policy on the safeguarding of sensitive data in the public sector and the vulnerability of private‑sector firms that house critical national infrastructure.
4. Public trust has eroded. A survey cited in the review found that 67 % of respondents felt the UK’s democratic institutions were “less trustworthy” in light of foreign influence campaigns.

Recommendations: a new statutory framework and operational response

Nathan Gill proposes a radical overhaul of the UK’s approach to foreign interference:

The review also calls for a joint task force between the MI5, MI6, the Security Service and the UK Civil Service to monitor “state‑backed media” outlets and to assess the influence of foreign entities on the political arena.

Government response

In a statement released on 25 June 2024, the Home Secretary announced that the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) would collaborate with the FCDO to develop the new statutory framework. The statement also confirmed that the government would begin drafting the proposed Foreign Influence Registration Act by autumn. Parliamentary committees have already scheduled a debate on the report, and the Intelligence and Security Committee has opened a public consultation on the OPFI’s structure.

Links to related coverage

The Independent article links to several key resources for readers wishing to dive deeper:

• The full review PDF – https://www.independent.co.uk/bulletin/news/foreign-interference-nathan-gill-review-b2885558.html
• UK Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee – https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/28/intelligence-and-security-committee/
• Home Office’s press release on new anti‑interference measures – https://www.gov.uk/government/news/home-office-launches-initiative-to-fight-foreign-interference
• Civil‑society watchdog OpenSecrets UK – https://opensecretsuk.org/foreign-interference

These resources provide the legal texts, committee reports and civil‑society analyses that frame the review’s context.

A sobering conclusion

Nathan Gill’s review is a wake‑up call. It shows that Britain’s democratic institutions are vulnerable, under‑resourced and over‑reliant on outdated legal frameworks. The Independent’s coverage makes clear that while the review has already prompted policy discussions, its recommendations are far from a silver bullet. They demand a concerted, cross‑ministerial effort, significant budgetary commitments and a cultural shift toward greater transparency.

The review, and the debate it has sparked, represent a crucial step toward protecting Britain’s democratic fabric from foreign interference. Whether the government will deliver on the bold reforms outlined, or simply rehash old policies with a new label, remains to be seen. For now, the Independent’s summary provides the essential information for anyone seeking to understand what the threat looks like and what is being done to counter it.