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NEU Senior Regional Support Officer
When are foreign interventions in British politics welcome?
Legal loopholes allow foreign companies and individuals to splash cash in support of political parties in what is a mockery of national sovereignty
PEAS IN A POD: (Left to right) Anthony Pratt, Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Donald Trump visit the Pratt Industries plant in Wapakoneta, Ohio last September [Shealah Craighead/Creative Commons]

THERE was another example  of “foreign interference” in the 2019 election.

No, not from the Russians this time. From the Australians.

During  elections political parties have to give weekly notices of their big donors, which are published by the Electoral Commission — it’s a “transparency” measure, so we can see who is trying to pay the parties for all their election advertising, Facebook posts and rallies. Which big money men — it is usually men — are opening their wallets to buy a slice of the election.

Balzac once said: ‘Behind every great fortune lies a great crime,’ and when it comes to the Pratt fortune that does feel like the case

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