Wealthy donors are increasingly fudning political campaigns, eroding the public’s trust in the political process. The Government has the opportunity to reverse that trend, argues Rose Whiffen of @anticorruption.bsky.social. blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandp...

🆕: Leaders from the anti-corruption space have written to the new Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy MP and new Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper MP, urging them to continue the UK’s leadership on illicit finance and commit to hosting the upcoming international summit. Read our letters below:

🚨 NEW: My first long piece of policy research at @transparencyuk.bsky.social is out. *Unlocking ownership data* is a blueprint for ending financial secrecy in British offshore centres. 🔗 www.transparency.org.uk/publications...

Wondering what the new money laundering threats are in this new digital age? Read our @bcowdock.bsky.social's blog on the Government's new risk assessment here.

The government's electoral finance changes are welcome—but it will still be far too easy to make foreign cash look British, and dirty money look clean. We need a cap on donations so that no billionaire can buy our politics. Sign the petition here: you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/ta...

We are extremely concerned to see the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza, where more than 100 international aid organisations and human rights groups are warning of mass starvation.

The quality of the food we put in our bodies should be the number one concern of a Government hoping to make us healthier, cut NHS waiting list, and restore productivity. But they’re doing the opposite. Wonder who’s been lobbying Labour.

Obvs everyone's disappointed they're not just hitting the "ban big donors" button - but this fits into my argument that they're not going to do that spontaneously, the useful work from the outside is trying to make an exit ramp through public funding www.mysociety.org/2025/07/22/e...

"It is unclear how the new financial penalties will be enforced and there are no changes to the rules on the revolving door, which urgently need strengthening" Our thoughts on the Government's new ethics announcements in the @financialtimes.com ⬇️ www.ft.com/content/0ff2...

🎉Big win: the Government has just announced new transparency requirements for offshore trusts owning homes in the UK. There's still work to do to make that data accessible, but we're a step closer to knowing the real owners of UK properties 🔍🏠 www.gov.uk/government/c...

He's one of Britain's richest men. So why does Asif Aziz's property company keep leasing London gift shops to overseas students based in abandoned offices or flytipped car parks — before vanishing without paying millions of pounds in taxes? www.londoncentric.media/p/asf-aziz-l...

Government plans for a new Ethics Commission are welcome, but without laws that enshrines the existence of the Ministerial Code of Conduct, ministerial standards will still rely on the ‘good chaps’ theory of government. Our full statement 👇 www.transparency.org.uk/news/new-eth...

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 ⬇️

While you should be careful of reading too much into the over-reach of individual police officers, the suggestion that protesting at the Gaza war is “expressing an opinion or belief which is supportive of proscribed organisation” is quite something. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...

It’s astounding that a sitting MP — and former Prime Minister — can simultaneously work as an advisor to a major bank. Roles like this carry at high risk of being used for (illegal) lobbying activity or of conflicting with parliamentary duties.

Nearly every trail of dirty money leads to a shell company in the British Virgin Islands or another UK-linked financial centre. It’s time for the UK to end the corporate secrecy in its Overseas Territories that enables global financial crime.

🚨BREAKING Multiple British Overseas Territories just missed their deadline to expose the £billions being stashed away in secret offshore accounts by super rich tax dodgers, corporates, and criminals. This is the third such deadline they’ve missed. 1/4 www.theguardian.com/business/202...

🚨 ⏰ ❌ Last night, the British Virgin Islands failed to meet its own deadline for opening up its corporate registers. 🖋️ ✉️ So our Chair @joepowell.bsky.social led a group of MPs in sending a letter to the BVI Premier this morning. This follows a letter we sent 5 months ago. 1/2

Here's a nice and cringey video of me trying to explain what the heck is going on in the UK's offshore financial centres & what the Government should do about it. 🕵️‍♀️💵🌴

British offshore centres pledged over six years ago to reveal company owners — but still haven't delivered. These delays keep the UK’s backdoor open to dirty money and clash with David Lammy’s pledge to end the ‘golden age of money laundering’.

If you're curious about how dark money makes it into the UK's political system & what to do about it, do read this explainer from my amazing colleague @rosewhiff.bsky.social 👇

The BVI’s grey listing should have prompted more transparency efforts - but instead its proposal for corporate registers falls woefully short of international standards and previous commitments. Our statement 👉 www.transparency.org.uk/news/bvis-pl...

Incredible impact from the investigation led by @bcowdock.bsky.social, @stevejgoodrich.bsky.social and the @theguardian.com, which identified millions worth of properties owned by allies of the former Bangladeshi PM. The NCA has now frozen most of these. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...

🎯 From the dirty money flowing into the UK's property market to Westminster's latest political scandals - we track it all so you don't have to. Get our expert analysis delivered straight to your inbox by joining our mailing list for all our latest updates. mailchi.mp/transparency...

🆕 BLOG 🆕 It's estimated £11 billion was stolen from Bangladesh during Sheikh Hasina's rule. As interim Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus visits London, Britain must freeze stolen assets and return their missing wealth. Read more ⤵️ www.transparency.org.uk/news/returni...

As Prof. Yunus wraps up his first day in the UK, questions around the return of assets suspected of being stolen by the former regime will loom. Our thoughts on what the UK could do to support asset recovery efforts & help Bangladesh ensure accountability. www.transparency.org.uk/news/returni...

Billionaires have propped up regime change not just in the US, but in parts of Europe like Georgia. The UK’s democracy is strong — but its electoral funding system leaves it vulnerable. Important warnings from @duncanhames.bsky.social at our Parliament event last night.

Read our latest investigation featured in @theguardian.com, which found at least £64 billion worth of properties owned via opaque trust structures. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/m...

🏢 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...

OFSI's latest report suggests the UK property sector may be helping Russian oligarchs dodge sanctions and undermining our foreign policy objectives. My thoughts in @politicshome.bsky.social www.politicshome.com/news/article...

In November of last year, Overseas Territories committed to introducing new legislation with a view to bring forward transparent corporate registers by June. Most of them are already falling behind. Our analysis below 👇

My latest piece on how the UK property industry is assisting sanctioned oligarchs in evading asset freezes. 👇

The enablers within: how UK professionals are helping Russian elites evade asset freezes from @margotmollat.bsky.social @transparencyuk.bsky.social www.transparency.org.uk/news/enabler...

📢 As of this morning, I have taken on my new role as Whitehall Editor of the Observer, with @rachelsylvester.bsky.social as Political Editor 📰 If you have a tip or a story please get in touch - for now you can use my @tortoisemedia.bsky.social email catherine [dot] neilan [@] tortoisemedia.com

Tourisme spatial : Katy Perry a largué autant de CO2 en 11 minutes que ce qu’elle aurait dû émettre en 8 ans

While it's encouraging to see Companies House use their new powers, the law will remain just a piece of paper without fines being collected, properties frozen, and individuals referred for prosecution. My full quote below 👇

Fellow blue-skyers: as part of a research project, I am looking to speak to EU officials at DG FISMA, or anyone involved closely in the EU's 6th Anti-Money Laundering Directive. Any ideas?

Come work with me/ the anti-corruption coalition. It's fun - I promise. www.charityjob.co.uk/jobs/transpa...

Several foreign billionaires will have UK outlets which will allow them to donate to political parties while sticking to the new rules. This simply won't be enough.

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.

📺 Last week's debate on political finance saw MPs from across parliament voice their support for tackling big money's grip on politics. Watch 👇 to hear from @joepowell.bsky.social @stellacreasy.bsky.social @elliechowns.bsky.social @rachelblakemp.bsky.social + more, on what can be done to fix it.

Consensus is growing - it's time to get big money our of UK politics ⤵️

No exodus to state sector after VAT added to private school fees, say English councils Most say they have seen no impact on applications for year 7 places, despite warnings from those against policy www.theguardian.com/education/20...

Beneficial ownership data for millions of companies registered in the UK and more than 30,000 overseas entities has been republished in line with the latest version of the Beneficial Ownership Data Standard from @openownership.bsky.social and Open Data Services www.openownership.org/en/news/unit...

🗣️ "I think American businesses around the world are going to face a lot more demands for bribes to be paid in some very difficult markets." As the US halts enforcement of law banning bribery of foreign officials @duncanhames.bsky.social warned @bbcnews.bsky.social what ending the ban will mean.

🆕 BLOG 🆕 As the UK remains at its lowest ever #CPI2024 score and the global fight against corruption hitting a plateau, urgent action is needed to strengthen anti-corruption frameworks here and abroad. Read more on our blog ⤵️ www.transparency.org.uk/news/cpi-202...

🗣️"We see the global fight against corruption hitting a plateau." As the UK remains at it's lowest ever #CPI2024 score @danieljbruce.bsky.social explains why urgent action is needed to strengthen anti-corruption frameworks here and abroad. See the full results ⤵️ transparency.org/en/cpi/2024

When will Govt learn you can’t out-Reform Reform - you end up simply legitimising their toxic narrative. To see off populists, Labour needs to invest in public services & local communities, making a real difference to people’s lives - levy a wealth tax & use it to improve people’s lives *now*

This week, MPs wrote to the British Virgin Islands Premier, calling out attempts to halt transparency measures to tackle illicit finance.