City bankers, lawyers and lobbyists in sights of MPs campaigning to reduce overseas influence in UK
City bankers, lawyers and lobbyists face the threat of tougher regulations as revelations about Russian interference in British politics renew scrutiny on London’s links to dirty money and foreign political influence.
Senior politicians are calling for a cleanup of the legal, accounting, property and public relations industries alleged to be part of a London “laundromat”. The steps could include a new law forcing firms to publicly disclose work carried out for foreign governments or politically connected actors, similar to laws in the US and a 2018 Australian law to tackle Chinese political influence.
Bob Seely, a Conservative MP and member of the foreign affairs select committee, said similar rules are urgently needed in Britain “because the UK is an influence peddler’s paradise”. Doing nothing would undermine not only the UK’s values, but its economy because “bad money often drives out good”
Full article Telegraph