Government defeats move to tighten UK foreign donations law

Campaigners say defeat of amendment to close loopholes on party funding leaves UK open to ‘malign influences’

UK elections remain at risk from interference by hostile states after the government voted down a move to close loopholes on foreign donations to parties, campaigners have warned.

The chair of parliament’s security committee was among those who backed an amendment to the national security bill that would have obliged political parties to carry out due diligence on the true source of donations from companies and individuals.