Lords’ links to foreign companies

MINISTERS have revealed plans to crack down on the influence of Chinese and Russian money in politics. At least seven peers have declared links with Russian firms – however, there is no suggestion of wrongdoing by the peers. Among those who have links to

LORD SKIDELSKY, CROSSBENCH

A non-executive director of the Russian oil refining company Russneft, he has spoken against sanctions on Moscow. Until June 2017, he was also a non-executive director of Rusnano Capital. In 2014, amid the Ukraine crisis, he spoke in the Lords to question Russian sanctions.

LORD LILLEY, TORY

The former Cabinet minister is an adviser to YiMei Capital, a Chinese investment firm in Shanghai. When he was in the Commons, he declared the firm’s address, his hours and his pay. But in the Lords, he simply notes his role. The approach highlights the discrepancy between the Lords and Commons.

LORD FAIRFAX OF CAMERON, TORY

A director of Sovcomflot (UK), a subsidiary of Russia’s largest shipping group, he was reported to the Lords standards committee last year after he sought a meeting with security minister Ben Wallace to discuss his Russian firm. He was cleared of breaching lobbying rules.