Question
I am grateful to the Foreign Secretary for those remarks, but with Russian-linked interference operations continuing to target democratic elections across Europe, does he feel that the current arrangements are sufficient? He will know that the European democracy shield is developing new structures to co-ordinate action against foreign interference and disinformation, so what discussions has he had with our European partners about ensuring that the UK is fully involved in those efforts, including the proposed European centre for democratic resilience, so that we can better identify and respond to Russian attempts to undermine democratic elections across Europe?
Answer
The hon. Lady raises an important issue, and Governments across the world, and indeed across Europe, need to do more. Since October 2024, this Government have sanctioned 106 entities and individuals responsible for delivering Russia’s information warfare. That includes, in July, sanctioning Rybar, the media company resourced by the Russian state and responsible for spreading false narratives about Ukraine and interfering in European elections, including in Moldova. I hope—indeed, I am confident—that the centre that the Prime Minister announced is something we will work on with our European partners to counter this grave threat to our democratic way of life, frankly, across the world.14% vibes
Verdict: AMBER (42/100)
The reply directly answered the first part of the question, saying that governments, including those across Europe, need to do more, and it gave concrete examples such as 106 sanctions on information-warfare actors and the sanctioning of Rybar for interfering in European elections. It did not answer the second part about the EU's democracy shield or the European centre for democratic resilience and how the UK would take part in them. Instead it discussed the UK's own planned national centre, so a member of the public would still lack a clear answer on UK involvement in EU structures and would probably need to ask again.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whether the Government considers the current arrangements sufficient to address Russian-linked interference operations targeting democratic elections across Europe. | Addressed | Direct | The reply states that governments, including across Europe, 'need to do more', which answers whether current arrangements are sufficient, and it backs this with concrete measures: 106 sanctions on information-warfare actors, the sanctioning of Rybar for interfering in European elections including Moldova, and the planned national centre for information defence. |
| What is the nature of the Foreign Secretary's engagement with European partners on ensuring the UK is fully involved in the European democracy shield's new structures for co-ordinating action against foreign interference and disinformation, including the proposed European centre for democratic resilience. | Partially Addressed | Hedged MISREADS QUESTION | The only statement touching European engagement is the hope and confidence that the UK's own national centre will be worked on with European partners, which answers about a different body and says nothing about the EU's democracy shield, the European centre for democratic resilience, or how the UK will be involved in those EU structures. |