Douglas Alexander has apologised for late declaration of a meeting with Global Counsel - as revealed by @transparencyuk.bsky.social and the PM has accepted his apology... assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a2939...

Corruption is a serious accusation but a word that often gets thrown around. TI rely on a precise definition: Corruption is the abuse of entrusted power for private gain. Did Peter Murrell hold entrusted power? Did he abuse it? www.transparency.org.uk/news/corrupt... @salmondsalmond.bsky.social

The Murrell case demonstrates we cannot be complacent about the risk of corruption happening here in Scotland. @petergeoghegan.bsky.social @severincarrell.bsky.social @leaskyd.bsky.social @kathleennutt.bsky.social www.transparency.org.uk/news/corrupt...

I spent some time this week applying some of my learning from a one-day course at the University of Sussex Centre for Corruption to the Murrell embezzlement case. Hopefully my analysis is interesting, useful and thought-provoking. www.transparency.org.uk/news/corrupt...

🗣️"The lesson from this saga should be that open government in the first place serves the public better than belated dumps of data long after the event." @muteswann.bsky.social in the BBC on revelations Douglas Alexander failed to initially declare a meeting with Global Counsel. More below ⤵

What prompted the update to the data? If the humble address revelations are a prompt then that suggests the meeting should have been recorded 18 months ago. Alexander's recollection of the meeting being 'enlightening' doesn't help explain why he forgot to declare it www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Timeline: July 2024 - Douglas Alexander meets with Global Counsel as set up by Peter Mandelson. He tells Peter it was "the single most enlightening conversation I've had in the last month on trade". Feb 2025 - TI-UK downloads the DBT ministerial meetings data to update our Open Access portal.

It's official, Scottish Labour have won!* *The most pages in a manifesto competition with a whopping 98, with the Scottish Lib Dems and Scottish Conservatives coming joint second with 96.

No10’s account is incredible. I held Developed Vetting for nearly ten years and spent three years at the heart of the Cabinet Office. I have never heard of a Developed Vetting denial being overruled. Here’s why…🧵 www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Hot take: It doesn't really matter who is telling the truth of Sarwar and Offord, conversations can always be interpreted by the participants. What does matter is that Offord is operating the chaos monkey playbook like a pro, distracting from attention to either party's actual policy proposals.

With enormous regret, SLAB is today advising supporters not to vote for ANY Scottish Labour candidate in this election. There are several pro-trans Labour candidates standing on 7 May, but a vote for them would now sadly be an endorsement of explicit transphobia. #NoVotesLabourInMay #TransRightsNow

🎥 10 years ago, the Panama Papers exposed corruption to the world. It uncovered billions of suspect funds moving through the global economy and how corrupt elites were hiding their stolen wealth. Since then, progress has been made but the flow of dirty money remains. 🔗Full link in comments ⤵️

I've noticed a number of comment pieces recently maligning the influence of NGOs on Scottish Government, and alluding to the funding they receive from Scottish Government somehow being mispent on lobbying that only supports SG policy.

North Sea oil and gas will not change the global markets. They cannot be refined here and they are increasingly dangerous to exploit. Don't fall for the 'domestic oil and gas' misnomers or the 'we can pump it straight into the supply chain' lies. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Um, but if his new phone had the same number why didn't the old messages transfer? www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

This is excellent reporting which deftly demonstrates the weaknesses and loopholes in Companies House, before you even get to opaque trusts in overseas territories!

Great to see Reform UK working at the utmost of professional standards and ensuring their website links are all working.

UK government: the UK will stand up for democracy and civil society... as we work together to address threats to democratic resilience, shrinking space for civil society. opengovernment.org.uk/2025/12/01/u... Also UK government: Home Sec 'disappointed' Palestine Action ban ruled unlawful.

on the verge of what is the actual point anymore with all this white male fuckaboutery

Glad Marina Hyde has the column inches to say what I'm sure many of my circle are thinking www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Enabling environments for corruption can intersect with other abuses. Where elite networks operate without oversight, and misconduct faces no real consequences, multiple forms of exploitation - including sexual violence - continue with impunity. Accountability gaps don't exist in isolation.

🗣️ "Requiring Scotland's lobbying register to include the expense associated with lobbying would expose any links between access to decision makers and financial resources." @muteswann.bsky.social spoke to @theferret.scot, calling for tighter lobbying rules. www.theferret.scot/political-pa...

Who is funding this appeal? www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

If you want to discuss what this means for Scotland, get in touch ✍️

The @theguardian.com and @australia.theguardian.com photogs are on fire today. This ‘quintessential teen pout’ is *chef’s kiss*

This Times article suggests Keir Starmer is considering Vaughan Gething for a spot in the House of Lords. Yep, that Vaughan Gething, who resigned as Welsh FM after a torrid period of challenges to his integrity. www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...

Another week, another full refund for a delayed train. Which I appreciate but no wonder prices keep rising.

Delighted to spend the day at the Senedd thinking about all the changes, opportunities and requirements for scrutiny as the parliament grows in size. Thanks to @jemm-s.bsky.social for co-presenting with me!

Cardiff!

The @transparencyuk.bsky.social submission to the Senedd Member Accountability Bill Committee is now on the Senedd website. business.senedd.wales/documents/s1...

Pleased to see others expressing concerns at the pace and Henry VIII clauses in the Senedd Cymru (Member Accountability) Bill. business.senedd.wales/mgConsultati... @unlockdemocracy.bsky.social @electoralreform.bsky.social

The Senedd is currently considering a Bill to introduce Recall, improve the functioning of the Standards Committee, and create an offence of deception in the run up to and during elections.

ICYMI: Who really owns property in Scotland - and sometimes not just glamourous castles but also... parking spaces in Paisley...

“It is far too easy for the true owners of property to hide behind secret trusts and offshore structures.” Our latest investigation shows how an oligarch praised by Putin controls UK property, including in Scotland’s biggest town www.theferret.scot/r...

New look @theferret.scot website featuring a superb investigation that demands Scotland consider how to crack down on land ownership transparency loopholes. www.theferret.scot/russian-olig...

Excellent reporting from @jamiermann.bsky.social for @theferret.scot showcasing avoidance of land ownership transparency in Scotland and why the RCI should be used to tackle corruption risks www.thenational.scot/news/2562485...

We were delighted to be invited and look forward to next steps including closing the lobbying exemption loophole (more to follow on that…)

The reality is that much of the intended improvements of land ownership transparency will not be effective without reform of trust transparency and land registration. We look forward to working on an anti-corruption strategy to address these loopholes www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Grateful to Rhoda Grant MSP for lodging the amendment that triggered this commitment on the floor of the chamber. If you want to get involved in creating Scotland's first anti-corruption strategy lmk! Also, this is why this matters www.transparency.org.uk/news/researc...

A few days after the presidential election one year ago, we went to Fordham Road in the Bronx. It was a little different last week.

💥 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.

Grateful to Rhoda Grant MSP for lodging the amendment that triggered this commitment on the floor of the chamber. If you want to get involved in creating Scotland's first anti-corruption strategy lmk! Also, this is why this matters www.transparency.org.uk/news/researc...

Well that was exciting - Scottish Government just confirmed in the chamber at Holyrood that they will bring forward an anti-corruption strategy as part of the next Open Government Action Plan.

It's pretty shocking that a vital piece of energy infrastructure could be sold to someone with so many questions to answer about the legality of their business dealings www.source-material.org/mazzagatti-v...

Tomorrow!

As Holyrood gets ready to begin the final stages of the Land Reform Bill, read more about the imrpvements to transparency of land ownership @transparencyuk.bsky.social considers to be an essential aspect to ensure the provisions can be effective... #LandReform #Holyrood #transparency

“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...

Secret trust structures could undermine the effective of the accountability measures in the Land Reform Bill. As Stage 3 kicks off, read more… www.transparency.org.uk/news/researc...

Very much enjoyed Marina Hyde talking to Glen Powell. Can’t think what persuaded her to dust off her interview skills after a decade… 😉😎