17:25

MPs have challenged connexions between a firm linked to Cambridge Analytica, AggegateIQ, and the DUP.

The DUP paid almost £33,000 during the EU referendum campaign to AggregrateIQ, a Canadian data firm. Altogether, the company received more than £4.6m from Brexit campaign groups – more than any other company in the 2016 referendum.

Cambridge Analytica is at the centre of the global scandal over its use of FaceBook data to target voters.

During Northern Ireland questions the Lib Dem MP Layla Moran and Lady Herman, the independent backbencher, both challenged the government on the decision not to backdate the electoral transparency requirements.

The regulations do now apply in Northern Ireland, meaning the parties are required to set out all donations and loans, the requirement only applies from July 2017 – although the Electoral Commission had expressly recommended that the regulations should be backdated to 2014.

Karen Bradley, the Northern Ireland secretary, rebuffed the demand. “The decision to backdate transparency was taken on the basis of broad support from all parties.”