🧵THREAD The government's Economic Crime Survey 2024 reveals the shocking scale of fraud, bribery and money laundering hitting UK businesses. www.gov.uk/government/p... The numbers are staggering. Here's what you need to know ⤵️ (1/5)

🎥 "Research has linked £250 billion worth of funds diverted by rigged procurement, bribery and embezzlement in 79 countries to our overseas territories." Great to see Sir Andrew Mitchell citing our analysis in yesterday's debate to call for an end to financial secrecy in UK Overseas Territories.

🆕 BLOG 🆕 The UK Government's 2025 National Risk Assessment identified crypto assets as a growing risk to money laundering and terrorist financing Our new explainer looks at how crypto works and potential risks it poses to political funding. Read more ⤵️ www.transparency.org.uk/news/does-cr...

🎥 "Because financial secrecy in our overseas territories has real-world consequences for my constituents... and for Britain's standing in the world." @appgonacrt.bsky.social chair, @philbrickellmp.bsky.social introduces today's debate on ending financial secrecy in Britain's Overseas Territories.

💥 BREAKING 💥 Scottish Government commits to anti-corruption strategy with improved transparency of trust structures (as proposed by Rhoda Grant in parliament). This is an important commitment that will help prevent kleptocrats and oligarchs investing their ill-gotten gains in Scottish property.

🚨 NEW 🚨 Billions of pounds of dirty money have been laundered through shell companies in the UK Overseas Territories, such as the BVI. Tomorrow MPs are debating ending financial secrecy these territories. Ahead of tomorrow's debate, watch below on why this matters ⤵️

🆕 Important progress on corporate transparency Increased Companies House fees will fund enhanced enforcement under the Economic Crime & Corporate Transparency Act, giving authorities the tools needed to crack down on suspicious shell companies. www.gov.uk/government/n...

🆕 BLOG 🆕 Did you know there's no detailed guidance on how political parties should handle crypto donations? Our new explainer looks at how cryptocurrency works and potential risks the technology poses to political funding. Read more ⤵️ www.transparency.org.uk/news/does-cr...

Fossil fuel companies have an oily grip on our politics 🤝 On Wed 29th Oct, we'll discuss taking action to end fossil fuel lobbying in politics with Paul Dobson @theferret.scot & Juliet Swann & Rose Whiffen from @transparencyuk.bsky.social Join us in Edinburgh/online: act.foe.scot/nat_meeting_...

“Ensuring a fully transparent dataset of land ownership in Scotland could have immediate benefits to communities seeking to use land reform provisions and will also help prevent kleptocrats and oligarchs investing their dirty money gains in Scottish property.“

NEW: £3.2 billion worth of Scottish property is held by opaque offshore structures. This makes it impossible to identify the true owner and raises concerns that transparency loopholes could undermine the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill currently before MSPs. www.transparency.org.uk/news/researc...

The Crown Dependencies should look to countries like Sweden and Denmark, which have taken decisive steps in opening up their registers to legitimate users. www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...

Changes announced this week to overhaul the UK’s anti-money laundering supervision mark a major step towards fixing our broken system for tackling illicit finance.

Changes announced this week to overhaul the UK’s anti-money laundering supervision mark a major step towards fixing our broken system for tackling illicit finance.

Our @biggive.bsky.social campaign has now closed. Donations will no longer be matched but you can still support us in the usual way via the link below. Thank you to everyone who gave generously during the campaign! www.transparency.org.uk/donate

⏰ 1 hour to go ⏰ Any donations you make to support our work via the link (below) before 6pm will be doubled. Help us break big money's grip on politics. donate.biggive.org/campaign/a05...

💷 "These reforms are long overdue and present a welcome step towards fixing the UK’s broken system for tackling dirty money." Read our full response to the Government’s decision to overhaul the policing of anti-money laundering rules in the private sector ⤵️ www.transparency.org.uk/news/transpa...

⏰ Under 7 hours to go! Any donations made to support our work via the @biggive.bsky.social link before 6pm today will automatically be doubled. donate.biggive.org/campaign/a05...

📻 "UK politics has a serious problem with big money." @danieljbruce.bsky.social spoke with @lbc.co.uk to discuss the potential influence those with deep pockets are able to exert on our elections. Donations to support our work will be doubled until October 21 ⤵️ donate.biggive.org/campaign/a05...

💷 2013 - 2023: Nearly 25% of political House of Lords nominations were party donors, giving £58m+ collectively. At our event with @spotlightcorruption.org at Labour Conference, @duncanhames.bsky.social set out why big money's influence on UK democracy is damaging the public's trust. Watch more ⬇️

We’ve just added 4,500+ new meetings to our Open Access database of Westminster and Holyrood meetings with external organisations. 🔎 Check out the new data here: openaccess.transparency.org.uk

In opposition, Labour was quick to condemn the previous government’s ethical failures and pledge to clean up politics. It now has the chance to prove its commitment is more than campaign rhetoric. @danieljbruce.bsky.social writes in @politicshome.bsky.social. www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...

"While it's encouraging to see Reform UK taking its compliance with political finance law seriously, these findings show that concerns over ineligible donors seeking to influence our politics are real and justified." www.ft.com/content/5392...

At SNP Conference we hosted a packed fringe with @theferret.scot on land ownership transparency in Scotland. We looked at offshore ownership and whether current rules are working. Watch @muteswann.bsky.social share key takeaways from the event.

Great to see the UK Government taking action against industrial scale fraud and money laundering through coordinated sanctions. This case shows why public registers in UK Overseas Territories & Crown Dependencies are vital for enforcement & prevention. www.rfa.org/english/news...

The new Ethics and Integrity Commission is a step towards a more coherent approach to standards in public life. But our analysis suggests the Government’s approach so far to improving standards falls short of the comprehensive change needed. www.transparency.org.uk/news/analysi...

🚪🔚 Party Conferences Season 2025 comes to a close. 🏃🏻‍♂️‍➡️ We've been busy! 🌎 From Bournemouth to Aberdeen, Manchester to Liverpool, we discussed the urgent need to fight corruption, tackle dirty, and restore trust in our politics. ❤️ Thanks to all of you who joined us -- see you next year!

Join us at SNP Conference this weekend. On Sunday at 5pm, @muteswann.bsky.social and @margotmollat.bsky.social will speak at “Can you keep a secret? Tackling hidden ownership of Scottish assets” hosted with @theferret.scot. www.transparency.org.uk/events/can-y...

Join us at SNP Conference this weekend. On Sunday at 5pm, @muteswann.bsky.social and @margotmollat.bsky.social will speak at “Can you keep a secret? Tackling hidden ownership of Scottish assets” hosted with @theferret.scot. www.transparency.org.uk/events/can-y...

We're looking forward to joining @foescot.bsky.social on October 29 to talk lobbying and the fossil fuel industry. @muteswann.bsky.social & @rosewhiff.bsky.social will explore the importance of transparency around influence at Westminster & Holyrood. 🔗 act.foe.scot/nat_meeting_lobbying_edinburgh

🚨 Just 19 donors provided 66% of UK political donations in 2023 - pumping £56.5 million into our politics. We're campaigning to: ✅ Cap donations ✅ Reduce spending limits ✅ Close foreign interference loopholes Every donation DOUBLED for 30 days ⤵️ donate.biggive.org/campaign/a05...

MPs are supposed to report potential conflicts of interest between their official duties and private financial affairs, our Head of Investigations @stevejgoodrich.bsky.social tells @theobserveruk.bsky.social. observer.co.uk/news/politic...

💸 In 2023, just 19 mega donors poured £56.5 million into Britain's political parties. That's 66% of all political donations. We're fighting back against big money - and YOUR donation goes TWICE as far via @biggive.bsky.social matched funding. DONATE TODAY ⤵️ donate.biggive.org/campaign/a05...

📺 "The £122 million of Medpro is the tip of the iceberg. A billion pounds of stock that went through that VIP lane was written off as unfit for use in the NHS." Following yesterday's ruling, @danieljbruce.bsky.social spoke with Talk TV on the serious flaws of the ‘VIP lane’ for COVID contracts.

⚖️ "The 'VIP-lane' was one of the most egregious aspects of the way the former government went about procuring emergency supplies during the pandemic." Our Chief Executive @danieljbruce.bsky.social spoke with @bbc5live.bsky.social to discuss today's High Court ruling against PPE Medpro.

💸 In 2023, just 19 mega donors poured £56.5 million into Britain's political parties. That's 66% of all political donations. We're fighting back against big money - and YOUR donation goes TWICE as far via @biggive.bsky.social matched funding. DONATE TODAY ⤵️ donate.biggive.org/campaign/a05...

And we're underway! Great to be at Labour Conference this year partnering with @spotlightcorruption.org and @moreincommonuk.bsky.social for our event on how big money and foreign interference skews our democracy.

📽️ NEW 📽️ Does the UK have a dark money problem? Should we be worried? As our Senior Research Officer, @rosewhiff.bsky.social explains - the public have a right to be concerned about the grip of dark money on our politics.

WHO PAYS, WHO DECIDES? BIG MONEY IN BRITISH POLITICS 📆Monday, 4.30pm | Nova Scotia | Liverpool Join our Director of Policy, @duncanhames.bsky.social, @liambyrnemp.bsky.social, @suehawley.bsky.social & @edhodgsoned.bsky.social to hear about big money's influence on our democracy.

WHO PAYS, WHO DECIDES? BIG MONEY IN BRITISH POLITICS 📆Monday, 4.30pm | Nova Scotia | Liverpool Join our Director of Policy, @duncanhames.bsky.social, @liambyrnemp.bsky.social, @suehawley.bsky.social & @edhodgsoned.bsky.social to hear about big money's influence on our democracy.

Serious questions remain about Labour Together and Morgan McSweeney's characterisation of these breaches. Given the PM's emphasis on the fight for trust, we would welcome him seeking the guidance of his independent adviser on standards. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

🚨 NEW 🚨 Nathan Gill, the former leader of Reform UK in Wales has pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to eight bribery charges while an elected member of the European parliament. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

📽️ NEW 📽️ Does the UK have a dark money problem? Should we be worried? As our Senior Research Officer, @rosewhiff.bsky.social explains - the public have a right to be concerned about the grip of dark money on our politics.

💸 Nearly £1 in every £10 donated to UK political parties comes from UNKNOWN sources. That's millions in dark money flowing into our politics. We're fighting back - and YOUR donation goes TWICE as far via @biggive.bsky.social matched funding. Support us today ⤵️ donate.biggive.org/campaign/a05...

Heading to Labour Party Conference this weekend? Join our Director of Policy, @duncanhames.bsky.social, @liambyrnemp.bsky.social, @suehawley.bsky.social, @edhodgsoned.bsky.social and Baroness Hodge for "Who pays, who decides? Big money in British politics". www.transparency.org.uk/events/who-p...

💷 Polling by @patmillsuk.bsky.social found 81% of UK millionaires think extreme wealth buys political influence. We need your help to break big money's grip on our politics. Support our work today and see your donation doubled via @biggive.bsky.social ⤵ donate.biggive.org/campaign/a05...

📺 "The government used emergency procurement measures to just directly award contracts to companies." @danieljbruce.bsky.social highlighted the approach that led to billions of pounds of wasted public money on ITV's The Covid Contracts documentary Available on ITVX ⤵️ www.itv.com/watch/the-co...

🚨 Just 19 donors provided 66% of UK political donations in 2023 - pumping £56.5 million into our politics. We're campaigning to: ✅ Cap donations ✅ Reduce spending limits ✅ Close foreign interference loopholes Every donation DOUBLED for 30 days ⤵️ donate.biggive.org/campaign/a05...

📺 "It is probably the biggest misspending scandal in the UK of all time." A ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review from The Guardian for last night's The Covid Contracts documentary featuring commentary and analysis from our Chief Executive, @danieljbruce.bsky.social. Now available on ITVX ⤵️ www.itv.com/watch/the-co...

📺 THIS SUNDAY 📺 Our Chief Executive, @danieljbruce.bsky.social features in a new documentary exposing the chaos behind COVID contracts. It shines a light on how much public money was wasted on PPE and the private companies profiting from the crisis. Watch Sunday, 10.20pm on ITV1 ⤵️