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| Firms run by former diplomats and ex-Tory chief first to appear on influence register | Firms run by former diplomats and ex-Tory chief first to appear on influence register |
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| Foreign Influence Registration Scheme designed to shine light on companies paid to represent foreign states in UK | |
| Firms run by two former British ambassadors and an ex-chief of staff to the Conservatives are the first three to appear on the government’s new register of foreign influence. | Firms run by two former British ambassadors and an ex-chief of staff to the Conservatives are the first three to appear on the government’s new register of foreign influence. |
| The register is designed to shine a light on which companies are being paid to represent foreign states in the UK. | The register is designed to shine a light on which companies are being paid to represent foreign states in the UK. |
| It launched on Wednesday with three companies having their names published in public – with firms allowed to ask for opt-outs from the open register if it “could prejudice commercial interests or present a risk to safety”. | It launched on Wednesday with three companies having their names published in public – with firms allowed to ask for opt-outs from the open register if it “could prejudice commercial interests or present a risk to safety”. |
| Government sources said more registrations were still being assessed and there was a pipeline due to be published. However, critics say there are too many loopholes that will allow companies to avoid registration or argue their names should be withheld. | Government sources said more registrations were still being assessed and there was a pipeline due to be published. However, critics say there are too many loopholes that will allow companies to avoid registration or argue their names should be withheld. |
| One of the first companies to appear was Groze Consulting, run by Sir Dominick Chilcott, who is a former ambassador to Turkey, Ireland and briefly Iran, whose small firm is registered as working for Bosnia and Herzegovina. | One of the first companies to appear was Groze Consulting, run by Sir Dominick Chilcott, who is a former ambassador to Turkey, Ireland and briefly Iran, whose small firm is registered as working for Bosnia and Herzegovina. |
| Chilcott said he thought that the register was understandable to bring in transparency and it was “probably sensible to have something like this”. | Chilcott said he thought that the register was understandable to bring in transparency and it was “probably sensible to have something like this”. |
| A second registrant was CGC reSolutions, run by the former diplomat, Charles Crawford, who was ambassador to Serbia and Montenegro, Poland, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The consultancy also appeared on the list for working on behalf of Bosnia and Herzegovina. | A second registrant was CGC reSolutions, run by the former diplomat, Charles Crawford, who was ambassador to Serbia and Montenegro, Poland, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The consultancy also appeared on the list for working on behalf of Bosnia and Herzegovina. |
| A third registrant is Sans Frontières Associates, run by Jonathan Lehrle, a former chief of staff under the Conservatives in the mid-2000s, which is representing the Democratic Republic of Congo. | A third registrant is Sans Frontières Associates, run by Jonathan Lehrle, a former chief of staff under the Conservatives in the mid-2000s, which is representing the Democratic Republic of Congo. |
| Lehrle said he was surprised only three names had been published as so many consultancies work for foreign states. | Lehrle said he was surprised only three names had been published as so many consultancies work for foreign states. |
| He said the firm’s work for the DRC is “well documented and quite public”, and that its original brief was to “help present the president to the English-speaking world –hence his appearance at the 2022 FT Africa Summit, (and) interviews with the Times and WSJ”. | He said the firm’s work for the DRC is “well documented and quite public”, and that its original brief was to “help present the president to the English-speaking world –hence his appearance at the 2022 FT Africa Summit, (and) interviews with the Times and WSJ”. |
| In terms of the register, Lehrle said he doubted it will have much impact, as the parameters are “too loosely set: for example for DRC we tend not to attempt to influence or change UK government policy”. | |
| He added that the firm “at most reaches out to APPGs [all-party parliamentary groups] or MPs who have expressed an interest in the DRC, Great Lakes area, and set up interviews, place articles, seats at conferences”. | |
| The government on Wednesday warned that all those acting in the UK on behalf of foreign states who do not register will face criminal sanctions. | The government on Wednesday warned that all those acting in the UK on behalf of foreign states who do not register will face criminal sanctions. |
| Dan Jarvis, the security minister, said: “The Foreign Influence Registration Scheme [FIRS} sends a clear message: the UK will not tolerate covert foreign influence in our democracy. | |
| “I urge all individuals and organisations conducting political influence on behalf of foreign powers to meet their legal obligations without delay. | “I urge all individuals and organisations conducting political influence on behalf of foreign powers to meet their legal obligations without delay. |
| “Designating Russia and Iran under the enhanced tier ensures we can detect, disrupt and deter hostile state activity. Those who fail to register risk up to five years in prison.” | |
| However, some campaign groups pointed out that those who register openly are those least likely to be those carrying out covert foreign influence operations. They also pointed out that there are exemptions, meaning firms can try to keep their names out of the public eye. | However, some campaign groups pointed out that those who register openly are those least likely to be those carrying out covert foreign influence operations. They also pointed out that there are exemptions, meaning firms can try to keep their names out of the public eye. |
| Susan Hawley, the director of the Spotlight on Corruption campaign group, said there were “many loopholes and exemptions in the current FIRS regime means that it can be easily swerved by individuals and entities looking to carry out foreign interference activities on behalf of hostile states”. | Susan Hawley, the director of the Spotlight on Corruption campaign group, said there were “many loopholes and exemptions in the current FIRS regime means that it can be easily swerved by individuals and entities looking to carry out foreign interference activities on behalf of hostile states”. |
| “Malign actors have a plethora of options available to avoid the legal requirement to register with the Home Office, from using law firms or state-owned enterprises and sovereign wealth funds to outsourcing work to a thinktank or other third party,” she said. | “Malign actors have a plethora of options available to avoid the legal requirement to register with the Home Office, from using law firms or state-owned enterprises and sovereign wealth funds to outsourcing work to a thinktank or other third party,” she said. |
| “The FIRS could be a vital tool for protecting our democracy, but its many loopholes raise serious questions about how effective it will be.” | “The FIRS could be a vital tool for protecting our democracy, but its many loopholes raise serious questions about how effective it will be.” |
| The Home Office has been approached for comment. | The Home Office has been approached for comment. |