❌ The Mandelson-Epstein emails again highlighted how the UK's lobbying transparency regime is woefully inadequate.
Poor transparency allows well-connected individuals and companies with deep pockets to influence decisions that should be made in the public interest.
More below ⤵
💥"When politicians hold stakes in the sectors they promote, promise regulatory favours to friends and openly threaten disfavoured companies, the boundary between public policy and private gain begins to dissolve."
Fraser Nelson in @thetimes.com on the corruption risks of crypto.
More below ⤵️
🔇END THE SILENCE
Legal threats against are too often used to suppress the truth and give impunity to criminals and the corrupt.
We need strong, universal Anti-SLAPP protections to end wealthy criminals abusing the UK court system to keep their crimes hidden from public view.
#StopSLAPPS
💥"Politicians talk a lot about trust. But the Elections Bill will do little to tackle one of the biggest sources of distrust in British politics: the rise of big money."
Peter Geoghegan is spot on.
Ending big money in politics - from home & abroad - is critical to restore trust in our democracy.
🗣️“Criminals can buy from developers off-plan and in bulk, often with fewer questions asked than in the resale market, and then generate apparently legitimate rental income”.
@bcowdock.bsky.social in @occrp.org on how new builds can attract criminals looking to launder their money.
More below ⤵
Last chance to grab a ticket to hear us discuss what’s to be done about dirty money, in Whitehall tomorrow evening:
📅 TOMORROW
Ahead of the UK's International Illicit Finance Summit in June, the National Liberal Club is hosting a panel discussion on how the UK can ensure the Summit is a success.
@duncanhames.bsky.social is joining a brilliant panel, with further details and tickets in the comments below ⤵️
💷 The new £100k cap on overseas donations won't stem the flow of big money into politics — donors can simply move back to the UK.
That's exactly what's happening. Only a cap on all donations will end the influence of mega donors in our politics.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Looking forward to this next week. Some tickets are still available and include a drink from the bar:
🗓️ EVENT: Combatting Illicit Finance
📍 14 April | 7.30pm
Join @duncanhames.bsky.social, @suehawley.bsky.social, @marianizzero.bsky.social, @steffanaquarone.bsky.social, @edwardlucas.bsky.social & Baroness Hodge for a discussion on making the UK's Illicit Finance Summit in June a success.
More ⤵️
🎥 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 ⤵️
🆕 BLOG
Ten years ago, the Panama Papers revealed how the rich and powerful hide stolen wealth through secret offshore companies. Now the UK is hosting a global summit to tackle illicit finance — but first, it needs to finish cleaning up at home.
Read more ⤵️
www.transparency.org.uk/news/ten-yea...
Watch the full video ⤵️
youtu.be/U6qOcnAILHM
🎥 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 ⤵️
📄 Almost 8 years since the UK's offshore financial centres committed to public registers of beneficial ownership - where are we now?
🔎 @margotmollat.bsky.social finds while a few have made progress, some of the worst jurisdictions for corruption are lagging behind.
🔗 Full analysis in comments ⤵️
💷"What’s needed is a ceiling on donations, such as other countries impose."
Insightful analysis from @pollytoynbee.bsky.social in the @theguardian.com last week on why bolder action is needed to clean up politics and end big money corrupting our democracy.
More below⤵
🗣️“You name a jurisdiction where people have earned a lot of money through questionable means, it ends up in London property”.
@stevejgoodrich.bsky.social speaking with the @wsj.com on the extensive London property holdings linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
More ⤵️
🔍 Who's lobbying your politicians?
Our Open Access database reveals 168,000+ Westminster & Holyrood meetings since 2012.
Search who's talking with the Prime Minister, the Defence Sec, or even your own MP.
Transparency matters. Explore the data ⤵️
openaccess.transparency.org.uk
💷 DONATION CAPS NEEDED
Mega donations buy influence, honours, and access to power. It erodes public trust and empowers the super rich.
Off the back of the Rycroft Review & the Elections Bill, MPs are becoming louder on the threat this poses to our politics.
⏱️ It's time to put an end to it.
More coverage in @politico.eu London Influence newsletter on the #RycroftReview.
Reaction from @transparencyuk.bsky.social, @fairvote.bsky.social and @spotlightcorruption.org to the huge steps forward recommended by the report and the acceptance of Sec Steve Reed on the need for a debate on a cap!
🚨Gov announces a moratorium on crypto donations and donation caps on overseas voters
These are two positive steps for our democracy.
But as Steve Goodrich highlights, "big money from a UK-based mega-donor poses the same risk to the integrity of our politics as from one based overseas".
More ⤵️
📈The share of private political donations from individuals and companies giving £1m+ has surged from just 1% in 2015 to 35% in 2024.
That's a 35x increase in under a decade and fuels corruption risks and foreign interference in UK politics.
💷 It's time to end the era of big money in UK politics.
📝 "How do you collect taxes on high-value property if the owner is hidden behind complex and opaque legal structures?"
@margotmollat.bsky.social explores the challenges in implementing the new 'mansion tax' without real property ownership transparency.
🔗Full article in comments below.
📈As governments rebuild military capacity at unprecedented speed, defence governance will become a defining test of institutional resilience and democratic trust.
🏛️This discussion will examine how integrity, transparency, and accountability can be embedded across the defence industrial ecosystem.
📅 NEXT WEEK
At next week's @oecd-ocde.bsky.social Global Anti-Corruption & Integrity Forum, we're looking forward to convening discussions on illicit finance & hosting an event on integrity in EU defence policy (details below).
📧If you're attending, please reach out to connect
#OECDIntegrity
📺 Donation caps needed to protect our politics
Yesterday @duncanhames.bsky.social made the case to Parliament on why it's time for a donation cap.
Watch below to hear how donation caps are widely used globally and would not stop political parties campaigning effectively ⤵️
📆TODAY
This afternoon, @duncanhames.bsky.social will give evidence to Parliament on why the Representation of the Peoples Bill needs stronger measures to stop big money corrupting democracy.
🎥Watch to hear why ending mega donations is needed for the Gov' to really restore trust in politics.
Image shows Sian chairing a meeting on lobbying transparency. She is sat in the middle of tables positioned in a horseshoe formation in a large wood panelled room in parliament.
Yesterday I hosted an incredibly informative, expert meeting of people showing just how insidious and harmful current lobbying rules are.
I am calling for all MPs to follow my lead and publish logs of all their meetings.
Corporate influence over politicians and policy must end.
