Scheme to register foreign agents comes into full effect as grace period ends
Independent5 days
UK Foreign Influence Registration Scheme Comes Into Effect
Above: Westminster Bridge and the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, London, in April 2023. Image copyright: Vuk Valcic/SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-government narrative
The Foreign Influence Registration Scheme protects British democracy from hostile foreign interference by requiring transparency from those working for foreign powers. While legitimate debate continues over the future designation of China, the scheme irrespectively provides crucial safeguards while exempting legitimate diplomatic work and journalism.
Government-critical narrative
Britain's new foreign influence scheme is nothing but a discriminatory weapon targeting Russia and Iran while the vague parameters allow arbitrary persecution of people engaged in legitimate cultural and educational work. This repressive mechanism masquerades as democracy protection but actually undermines diplomatic relations and criminalizes ordinary exchanges.