The Pan-Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs) can easily be used for “inappropriate access and influence by hostile foreign agents,” figures showed in the Common Standards Committee. The large increase in the number of informal interest groups risks “inappropriate influence and access” as it is so difficult to monitor. Commons spokesman Sir Lindsay Hoyle warned the committee in private about “very, very worrying” security implications without urgent changes to the way APPGs work. The report’s warnings came after MI5 revealed that a woman who had a “tool” in creating the Chinese APPG in Britain was a spy for the Chinese government.
What are APPGs?
The Pan-Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs) are informal cross-party groups led by and for MPs and peers. They have no formal status in parliament and most involve individuals and organizations outside parliament. The current rules for inviting people from outside parliament to join an APPG, MPs should carefully consider “if there are any possible concerns about specific guests”. The rules say that groups “should be transparent about their nature, participation and funding”, but the main current concern is not to be confused with selected committees. Labor MP Barry Gardiner, the former chairman of the most disbanded group, received more than 500 500,000 in donations from Christine Lee before the warning was issued in January. The committee concluded: “We are concerned that, if left unchecked, the APPGs could represent the next major parliamentary scandal, with commercial entities effectively buying access and influence over MPs and decision-makers.” Commons authorities should “provide more substantial support” to help lawmakers scrutinize the benefits offered by foreign governments, the commission said. Funding should be more transparent, lawmakers said, and the number of APPGs should be reduced from the current 744, lawmakers added. They also recommended regulating and limiting the number of group secretariats to “reduce the risk of inaccessible access”. Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:11 The MP spoke to the Chinese “agent” about politics Labor MP Chris Bryant, chairman of the Standards Committee, said APPGs “should never be a backdoor for influencing the corridors of power or pursuing commercial interests”. “Today’s report represents a wake-up call for all of us. The information we have gathered is appalling and shows the urgent need for the House to act,” he said. “Parliament has always been and will always be the target of hostile foreign states. “But with better regulation and transparency around these informal groups, we can ensure that they continue to contribute positively to our democracy.” Sir Lindsay said he had been concerned for “several years” about the “security risks posed by some APPGs in their indiscriminate involvement with government agents who are hostile to the interests of the United Kingdom”. “I also had fears about the proliferation of such groups, the influence of lobbyists on them and the lack of transparency and regulation about their activities,” he added. “I was told that the proposals are currently being consulted and it will ultimately be up to the Parliament as a whole to take the final decisions on how best to regulate it.”
