Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Defending Democracy Taskforce

Monday 31 March 2025 · 4 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Minister for Local Government and English Devolution spoke at an iftar hosted by the European Islamic Centre.
  • Minister for Social Security and Disability attended the Muslim Council of Britain's annual dinner.
  • Taskforce works closely with Northern Ireland Justice Minister to protect democratic integrity.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Steve Race Lab Exeter
Democracy & Elections
Context

People in Exeter are concerned about the security of elections and referenda from foreign interference, particularly Russian disinformation campaigns.

Question

People in Exeter want to be sure that the elections and referenda we hold are safe and secure from outside state actors who want to manipulate our politics for their own ends. We already know that Russian disinformation on social media in many African nations is already having a huge impact on their domestic politics. Can the Minister confirm that the taskforce will be taking into account our own Russia report and that this Government will do everything they can to defend our politics from the malign activities of external state actors?

Answer from The Minister for Security (Dan Jarvis)

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his question. It is and always will be a priority to protect the UK against foreign interference. The Government are absolutely committed to safeguarding the UK’s democratic processes and have established measures to protect it. While there is no room for complacency, Kremlin disinformation operations largely fail here in the UK, despite their best efforts. That is in part because of the discernment and judgment of the British public but also because of the actions of our intelligence services.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not confirm that the taskforce will consider the Russia report explicitly or commit to specific measures against Russian disinformation.

How: We Are Committed

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Q2 Nick Timothy Con West Suffolk
Standards & Ethics Religion & Faith
Context

MP concerned about government engagement with organisations and individuals they claim to oppose, citing specific instances of ministers attending events hosted by the European Islamic Centre, Muslim Council of Britain, and a dinner hosted by an imam celebrating attacks on Israel.

Question

The Minister for Local Government and English Devolution recently spoke at an iftar hosted by the European Islamic Centre, which is connected to Jamaat-e-Islami and Abul A’la al-Maududi, the Minister for Social Security and Disability attended the Muslim Council of Britain’s annual dinner, and the Prime Minister hosted Adam Kelwick, an imam who celebrated the 7 October attacks and told followers to “pray for victory” for Hamas. Why are the Government so keen to spend time with and lend legitimacy to organisations and people they say they oppose? What will the Minister say to the Prime Minister?

Answer from The Minister for Security (Dan Jarvis)

We are not, and I do not agree with the proposition that the hon. Member has made. All Ministers —of course, including the Prime Minister—take these matters incredibly seriously, and we always engage in the most responsible way.

Not addressed: Did not provide a specific explanation for engaging with organisations they claim to oppose or what message will be conveyed to the Prime Minister.

How: We Are Committed

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Q3 Jim Allister TUV North Antrim
Northern Ireland Democracy & Elections
Context

Concern about the impact of EU law on Northern Ireland’s democratic processes, questioning the integrity of UK democracy in areas controlled by foreign laws.

Question

When the defending democracy taskforce was established, it was proclaimed that its primary focus was to protect the democratic integrity of the United Kingdom. What work, therefore, has it done on the fact that there is a part of this United Kingdom—namely, Northern Ireland—where the democratic integrity of the United Kingdom has been upended by the fact that, in 300 areas of law, our laws are made not by this Parliament and not by the Stormont Assembly, but by a foreign Parliament: the European Union? What work has been done to restore democratic integrity to the United Kingdom in respect of Northern Ireland?

Answer from The Minister for Security (Dan Jarvis)

I give the hon. and learned Member an absolute assurance that we work closely with all the devolved Governments on this matter. In fact, I was in Northern Ireland just recently to discuss this with the Justice Minister. The work that we are conducting as part of the taskforce is cross-party and designed to ensure that we do everything we possibly can to prevent interference in our democratic processes. We take the matter seriously, and we will work with others on it.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific details on what actions have been taken or are planned by the taskforce regarding EU law's impact on Northern Ireland’s democracy.

How: We Take The Matter Seriously

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Q4 Matt Vickers Con Stockton West
Democracy & Elections Religion & Faith
Context

Concern about government engagement with groups that promote extreme views, questioning if this undermines the non-engagement policy towards extremist organisations.

Question

I realise that my hon. Friend the Member for West Suffolk (Nick Timothy) was unable to get a meaningful answer, but with Islamist extremism behind three quarters of MI5’s caseload, it is essential to shield our democracy from its pressure. The Minister has repeatedly reiterated the Government’s non-engagement policy with the Muslim Council of Britain, despite a Government Minister attending its annual dinner. More recently, there have been concerns about attendees at Government events who have publicly expressed some frightening views. Will the Minister assure the House that the Government remain committed to a non-engagement policy with those who seek to promote extreme views that undermine our democracy? Where Government Ministers go against that, how does the defending democracy taskforce respond?

Answer from The Minister for Security (Dan Jarvis)

I assure the shadow Minister that our policy on engagement has not changed. I have responded on this matter on a number of occasions. What I can say to him, addressing the substance of the issue, is that we will tackle extremism wherever we find it. The Government take these matters incredibly seriously. We will never allow them to be used as a political football. We will address these matters and tackle them head-on.

Not addressed: Did not provide specific assurances on the non-engagement policy or how breaches of it are handled.

How: We Take The Matter Seriously

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