Influence Conduits in UK Politics and Policy

This project examines how think tanks and other policy organisations can act as conduits through which opaque and foreign funding is translated into undue political and policy influence.

Political influence extends well beyond political parties, campaigns and elections. Think tanks, policy organisations, parliamentary groups, academic institutions and lobbyists all play an important and legitimate role in setting the political and policy agenda.

However, the transparency and regulatory frameworks governing this widening influencing environment are considerably less developed than those governing formal political finance. This creates significant and under addressed channels for foreign, powerful and wealthy interests to create undue influence.

As the Rycroft Review into countering foreign financial influence and interference in UK politics observed, 'there is a real risk going forward of more partisan activity funded by foreign actors, potentially using think tank-style organisations as conduits'.

Our project will examine how financial resources can translate into political and policy influence through 'influence conduits' – organisations that sit outside the formal political finance regime. It will assess existing safeguards, identify vulnerabilities and develop practical recommendations to strengthen resilience while protecting legitimate engagement, organisational independence, academic freedom and democratic debate.

Aims and objectives

We aim to understand how financial relationships within the wider policy ecosystem can create opportunities for opaque, undue or foreign influence, and how these risks can be addressed without restricting legitimate participation in democratic debate.

Our research will:

Map the pathways through which money can generate political and policy influence beyond formal political finance.
Assess whether the UK's existing transparency, regulatory and security frameworks adequately address these risks.
Develop practical and proportionate recommendations for government, regulators and policy organisations.

The project will be supported by a series of events, with the project's findings published in a research report in 2027.