🗣️ “This investigation exposes exactly why the UK’s lobbying system is broken.” As it's revealed party officials told lobbyists they could pay £18,000 for MP parties without disclosure, @rosewhiff.bsky.social warned of the failings in our lobbying transparency laws. www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...

Really important investigation by @stefanboscia.bsky.social - @duncanhames.bsky.social is right about very serious questions here around conflicts of interest. The Elections Bill is a key opportunity to break the link between political donations and public contracts.

Corruption disproportionately affects women and girls and is often realised through sexual violence. 1/5 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

🆕 BLOG 🆕 Up to £10 billion could be laundered through UK property each year, according to the latest government risk assessment. From opaque trusts to crypto schemes, criminals are finding new ways to hide dirty money. Read more ⤵️ www.transparency.org.uk/news/authori...

💷 In 2023 66% of private donations to political parties came from just 19 donors - between them donating over £56 million. ⛓️‍💥 It's time to end the mega-rich's grip on our politics. ❗ It's time to cap politician donations. Add your name to the call ⤵️ you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/ta...

Today, the Government released their long-awaited Strategy for Modern and Secure Elections. Out experts outline some of the key provisions in the White Paper and talk through what’s missing ⬇️

🎥 There are some positive things in there around political donations... But these measures ignore the elephant in the room... the growing reliance of political parties on a small number of wealthy backers and the corrupting influence of big money in politics. Our reaction to today's announcement ⤵️

“That unincorporated associations have donated such enormous sums while operating with minimal oversight represents a fundamental weakness in our democratic safeguards” @duncanhames.bsky.social @transparencyuk.bsky.social democracyforsale.substack.com/p/how-to-sec... #UKPolitics #DirtyMoney

🆕 BLOG 🆕 Did you know the UK's electoral watchdog can only fine parties up to £20,000 - even for serious breaches? Our new explainer reveals why current enforcement is failing to deter rule-breaking and what reforms are urgently needed. Read more ⤵️ www.transparency.org.uk/news/how-our...

🔍 We’ve just added 5,500+ 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

🚨 NEW 🚨 Billions of pounds of dirty money have been laundered through shell companies in the UK Overseas Territories, such as the BVI. This impacts national security and worsens global poverty. As David Lammy faces the Foreign Affairs Committee today, see why it's time for urgent action ⤵️

🚨UK TAX HAVENS MISS TRANSPARENCY DEADLINE🚨 UK offshore financial centres have failed to comply with the deadline for ending corporate secrecy, enabling dirty money to stay hidden in the UK. This undermines the UK's anti-corruption efforts and weakens national security. More in @theguardian.com ⤵️

🆕 BLOG 🆕 Did you know weak electoral laws are allowing millions of pounds to enter UK political parties from untraceable origins? Our new explainer looks into the dark money problem in UK politics and what can be done to bring real transparency to who is funding our politicians. Read more ⤵️

🆕 The BVI's plans for granting access to its corporate registers don't go far enough. Genuine beneficial ownership disclosure should expose corruption and empower investigators—not create bureaucratic barriers protecting wrongdoers. See our full response ⤵️ www.transparency.org.uk/news/bvis-co...

🎥 "One man, one vote is an established principle. It must not be supplanted by one man and his money." Sir John Major speaking at the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk earlier today, making the case for reducing the influence of big money in our politics.

📝 BLOG 📝 How can the UK help Bangladesh recover its missing billions? We set out a three step plan: 1️⃣ The immediate freezing of assets. 2️⃣ Expanded investigations into stolen assets. 3️⃣ Returning stolen assets. Read more ⤵️ www.transparency.org.uk/news/returni...

💥 NEW 💥 81% of UK millionaires surveyed by @patmillsuk.bsky.social think extreme wealth buys political influence and we agree. We must end the distorting effects of big on our democracy.

This poll also found that 81% of millionaires think extreme wealth buys political influence. To quote @lisasmartmp.bsky.social at TI's event this wk: We need to make sure that voters have the power in our democracy. It shouldn't be in the hands of a very very small group of powerful people

National defence must include our elections - as @edwardlucas.bsky.social argues those who want to damage our democracy are as likely to use electoral interference as bombs. An ambitious Elections Bill must urgently close the gaping loopholes in our defences. www.thetimes.com/article/e280...

🗣️ "We urge UK law enforcement to continue their inquiries and to freeze all suspect assets without delay." With the NCA freezing millions in assets from Bangladesh's former regime, @duncanhames.bsky.social urges UK authorities to freeze more suspect assets. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

🗣️ "When there's nothing left to buy, what is it that money can't buy? Well, it turns out that money can buy politics, and that's what they've set out to do." In Parliament last night @duncanhames.bsky.social set out why we must stop billionaires like Elon Musk buying power in our politics.

🗣️ Crypto threatens a “widening loophole that could allow unlimited anonymous donations to flow into UK politics.” Speaking to the @scotnational.bsky.social, @stevejgoodrich.bsky.social highlighted concerns that crypto assets may undermine political finance laws. www.thenational.scot/news/2520385...

🎥 "It should be that people have the power, and that means making sure that people can't buy elections." At our event in Parliament this week, @appgfairelections.bsky.social Vice Chair, @lisasmartmp.bsky.social called for action to stop the power of big money in our politics.

🆕 BLOG 🆕 Only the Cayman Islands has delivered on beneficial ownership register commitments, while BVI, Bermuda and others fall behind. Our analysis examines how these delays hamper anti-corruption efforts. Read more ⤵️ www.transparency.org.uk/news/oversea...

‪ 📝 BLOG 📝 Our analysis of the first six months of Labour government found intense lobbying on football regulation, with Premier League officials meeting ministers seven times while handing out £100k in freebies to MPs. Read more ⤵️ www.transparency.org.uk/news/behind-...

📝BLOG📝 A privileged minority of property owners continue to shield their assets behind trusts. Our new analysis now has revealed for the first time the true extent of trust-based property ownership across England and Wales. Find out more ⤵️

🏢 NEW 🏢 When it comes to buying property, the UK has trust issues. Our new analysis found over 170 properties, worth £2.5 billion, bought using suspicious wealth and owned via complex trust structures. Find out more ⤵️ www.transparency.org.uk/news/trust-i...

🆕 BLOG 🆕 Have you ever wondered just where politicians and political parties get their money from? In the first of our new series of explainers we look at who is funding our politics and how we can tighten rules on political finance. Read more ⤵️ www.transparency.org.uk/news/how-are...

🆕 BLOG 🆕 New reports reveal UK authorities are 'almost certain' UK professionals helping Russian elites evade sanctions. Our analysis examines how these enablers undermine Britain's efforts to hold Putin's inner circle accountable. Read more ⤵️ www.transparency.org.uk/news/enabler...

🗣️ The law “is not only riddled with loopholes but deliberately structured to omit crucial information about who lobbies politicians [and] their financial resources” @rosewhiff.bsky.social spoke to the @financialtimes.com on the need for tighter rules on lobbying. www.ft.com/content/fb26...

unfollowing everyone on linkedin except this guy

🔴 Who Runs Scotland? The Ferret analysed hundreds of records from the Holyrood lobbying register via @transparencyuk.bsky.social' s Open Access tool as part one of our month long member-funded investigation. Check out the results. ⬇️ theferret.scot/lobby...

The introduction of ID checks at Companies House should make it harder for criminals to hide behind false identities. Having greater assurance over who owns and controls companies is a vital step towards defending the UK against money laundering and financial crime. www.gov.uk/government/n...

🌟 🔍 🌟 If you're a brilliant comms professional looking for an inspiring role fighting corruption, then you just found your dream job. ✅ 📜 Apply today to join us as our new Senior Coalition Communications Coordinator! app.beapplied.com/apply/4s3nc6...

📝 BLOG Is this the end for Adolf Tooth Fairy Hitler? Companies House can now reject suspicious filings, but 65,000 companies are still breaking beneficial ownership rules. Read our latest blog on the progress and gaps in UK company law reform. ⤵️ www.transparency.org.uk/news/slow-ev...

I really enjoyed writing this piece - but hats off to the @foreignaffairs.com editorial team for their genius sub-heading: The Art of the Steal...!

🆕 BLOG 18 months after the biggest UK company law shake-up since 1844, how far have we come? Our latest blog takes stock of Companies House reforms, what's been accomplished and the critical work still ahead to tackle economic crime. Read more ⤵️ www.transparency.org.uk/news/slow-ev...

💷 We need to get big money out of our politics. The government's plans to reform rules on corporate donations are a step forward but sadly, they don't go far enough. @jemm-s.bsky.social explains ⤵️

Great to see @philbrickellmp.bsky.social on the need to increase powers for the @electoralcommission.org.uk to act as a proper deterrent and enforce the rules of law in our elections. To find out more about how to protect our democracy, do read our recent research below.

Tigthening the rules on company political donations is a bare minimum, not substantive reform. It won't reduce the burgeoning cost of politics, nor democracy being bought by those with the deepest pockets www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... Risk of government missing a big opportunity here to regain trust

🆕 BLOG 🆕 UK's 2024 election saw record £23M candidate spending—highest in a decade. But that's just half the story... New analysis of the Electoral Commission data and why we urgently need political finance reform. Read more ⤵️ www.transparency.org.uk/news/money-i...

📻 "It designed the triaging of offers of PPE to have a tick by them... because they had been referred by connections of politicians." Following Matt Hancock's evidence to the Covid-19 Inquiry yesterday, @danieljbruce.bsky.social spoke to BBC Radio 5 Live about the problems of the UK's VIP lane.

NEW: Lord Darzi, a senior adviser to the government on the NHS, failed to officially declare shareholdings in healthcare companies worth hundreds of thousands of pounds. Latest story in the Lords Debate, from David Conn: www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

ICYMI @electoralcommission.org.uk published candidate spending data yesterday for the 2024 UKPGE. Highlights + implications 👇 1) Most spent post-election in last 10yrs: £23m compared to next largest, £16.4m in 2019 NB. not adjusted for inflation but costs of campaigning have decreased in this time.

🗣️ "There'll be undoubtedly LLPs being used in this kind of activity. They're being used either directly to send goods to Russia... as well as to circumvent sanctions" @liambyrnemp.bsky.social quizzes @bcowdock.bsky.social on if LLPs registered with Companies House are being used to evade sanctions

If politics is to tread lighter on our lives, we need more genuine dialogue with constituents rather than just spamming people with expensive advertising around election time. Surveys regularly show 75% think the wealthy dominate politics, and this needs addressing. Elections Bill could do this.

Positive to hear gov is finally looking to close the company donation loophole, which @electoralcommission.org.uk has flagged for over a decade now news.sky.com/story/foreig... But this needs to be part of a package to take big money out of politics incl. big cuts to spending limits+donation caps.

🗣️ "This has made them really attractive to money launderers, crooks and sanctioned individuals." This afternoon @bcowdock.bsky.social gave evidence to the Business and Trade Committee and explained why Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs) are so attractive for those seeking to hide illicit wealth.

Companies House is making changes to verify people's identities on the UK company register over the next year. From 8th April 2025, people will start to need to prove who they are to set up, run, own or control a company in the UK www.gov.uk/guidance/ver...

🆕 BLOG 🆕 Last week our chief exec @danieljbruce.bsky.social gave evidence to the Covid-19 Inquiry on behalf of the @ukanticorruptioncoalition.org. Read his blog on the lessons that need to be learned from the mistakes of the UK's pandemic procurement ⤵️ www.transparency.org.uk/news/corrupt...