Claim 3eefd083Checked 21 Jul 2026
TrueOn the truth scale
“The government commissioned the Rycroft review.”
—Keir StarmerLabourThe Prime Minister·Engagements·03 Jun 2026Factual · historical current chronological
Reasoning & Evidence21 Jul 2026
The claim that "The government commissioned the Rycroft review" is directly confirmed by official UK government sources. A GOV.UK press release dated 16 December 2025 states: "An independent review, led by Philip Rycroft, into foreign financial interference in UK politics has been commissioned by the government." The review was commissioned by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Security Minister. The review's report was subsequently published on GOV.UK, with the report itself noting: "You asked me in December last year to conduct a review of foreign financial influence and interference in UK politics." The review made 17 recommendations and the government also published a formal response. The speech was delivered on 3 June 2026, well after the review was both commissioned (December 2025) and published (March 2026). The claim is accurate with no material qualifications missing.
Sources: GOV.UK press release "Urgent review into foreign financial interference in UK politics" (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/urgent-review-into-foreign-financial-interference-in-uk-politics); GOV.UK "The Rycroft Review: Report of the independent review into countering foreign financial influence and interference in UK politics" (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-rycroft-review-report-of-the-independent-review-into-countering-foreign-financial-influence-and-interference-in-uk-politics); GOV.UK "The Rycroft Review: HM Government response" (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-rycroft-review-hm-government-response)
From speech
I thank the hon. Member for her question. We will do whatever is necessary to protect our democracy from foreign influence and from dirty money. That is why we commissioned the Rycroft review, capped overseas donations and introduced a moratorium on crypto donations, and we are taking further action, as set out in the King’s Speech. But the £5 million question still remains: why is the leader of Reform dodging questions about his donations, and why did he keep it secret in the first place?
Sources opened
| [1] | gov.uk |
| [2] | gov.uk |
| [3] | assets.publishing.service.gov.uk |
| [4] | gov.uk |
| [5] | data.parliament.uk |
| [6] | gov.uk |
| [7] | assets.publishing.service.gov.uk |