Philip Rycroft, a senior British civil servant, has condemned what he describes as a “sinister” campaign by Reform UK against his recent review of foreign interference in British politics. The report, published earlier this year, assesses potential threats to the integrity of the UK’s political system and has influenced government measures, including a moratorium on cryptocurrency donations and a ban on foreign donations from British citizens living overseas. It also forms part of the foundation for the Representation of the People bill, which is scheduled to return to the House of Commons this week.

Rycroft, who previously served as permanent secretary in the Department for Exiting the European Union under former Prime Minister Theresa May, has faced criticism from Reform UK figures, notably party leader Nigel Farage and home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf. Farage accused Rycroft of undermining Brexit and labeled him as “not a neutral civil servant,” describing him as “an enemy of democracy” intent on restricting funding for political opponents.

Yusuf intensified these accusations on the social media platform X, pointing to Rycroft’s previous work as an adviser for Hong Kong-based multinational CK Hutchison, which has diverse interests including telecoms, infrastructure, and retail. Yusuf alleged that Rycroft had profited from activities benefiting the Chinese government and suggested that a future Reform UK government should investigate his dealings with China.

In response, Rycroft rejected the claims as inaccurate and expressed concern about their potential to stifle public discourse. He drew parallels between these attacks and political tactics seen in the United States, cautioning against the erosion of democratic norms. “We need in this country to be clear about whether that is the course we want to pursue—it will be the choice of voters as to what they expect of their politicians. But we need to step very carefully in that space, as our democracy ultimately rests on losers’ consent,” he said.

Rycroft emphasized that his review was conducted on a non-partisan basis and aimed at strengthening safeguards against foreign interference across all political parties. He highlighted a decline in public trust in politics as a key motivation for his work. He also defended his record on Brexit, stating that accusations against him dishonor not only his professionalism but also that of his former colleagues.

Regarding his association with CK Hutchison, Rycroft dismissed the allegations as “outrageous,” maintaining that involvement in the company does not imply subservience to the Chinese government.

A Reform UK spokesperson reiterated the party’s concerns, alleging that Rycroft maintained close ties to the Chinese Communist Party and had suppressed evidence regarding Chinese influence within the Labour Party. When prompted for substantiation, the party adjusted its claim to assert that Rycroft had “overlooked” alleged Chinese influence in Labour.

The ongoing dispute highlights the broader tensions between government efforts to counter foreign interference and political actors challenging those measures amid a charged political environment.