Public Relations: Russia
The question
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of trends in the level of UK-affiliated (a) public relations and (b) public affairs firms contracting with businesses associated with Russia from 2022.
Answered by Dame Angela Eagle
The Government has introduced robust mechanisms to ensure transparency and monitor how foreign actors engage with contracting with businesses associated with Russia.
In July 2025, the Government operationalised the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme, introduced under the National Security Act 2023 to increase transparency of political influence directed by foreign states. The Government has placed Russia on the enhanced tier of the scheme, meaning anyone carrying out any activities directed by the Russian state – including public relations and public affairs firms – must declare their activities or risk prosecution.
The next stage of the Counter-Political Interference and Espionage Action Plan, announced in November 2025, focuses on making it harder for foreign actors to use think tanks and lobby groups as channels through which to interfere with UK policy-making.
The Government intends to work with these sectors to strengthen their resilience, to ensure their hard-won reputations and networks are not exploited by adversaries as platforms for covertly interfering with UK public discourse and policy-making.
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