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.

🎥 BIG MONEY IS CORRUPTING OUR POLITICS 🎥

UK politics has a big money problem 💷

The super-rich use money to buy honours, influence and access to power. It erodes trust in our politics and undermines our democracy.

The UK needs a cap on donations to end big money in our politics.

More below ⤵️

The Mandelson-Epstein emails – what do they reveal about Britain’s broken lobbying system?

“It should not take a US federal investigation into a convicted sex offender to reveal how UK government policy is being shaped behind closed doors.” Read more in my opinion piece for @transparencyuk.bsky.social about the Mandelson/Epstein emails www.transparency.org.uk/news/mandels...

We owe it to Epstein’s victims and to British democracy to demand historic change | Gordon Brown The abuse of women by figures such as Epstein, and of political power by the likes of Mandelson, must be confronted. As far as I am able, I will play my part, says former UK prime minister Gordon Brow...

💥"Nothing less than a century-defining rebalancing of power and accountability is equal to this moment and the trauma of the victims."

A significant intervention from former PM Gordon Brown on why the Epstein-Mandelson revelations demand a fundamental cleaning up of UK politics.

More ⤵️

As @spotlightcorruption.org highlight, the new bill meant to strengthen accountability against misconduct at the highest levels of government, unfortunately introduces an "absurdly wide defence of having a ‘reasonable excuse’". This flaw needs to be addressed before its written into law.

It's rare to see how lobbyists operate. But the Epstein-Mandelson correspondence shows us what happens all the time: plutocrats and government ministers conspiring against the public interest. This is why all lobbying should be in the public domain, but despite Labour and Con promises, it's not. 🧵

Who leaked this Number 10 discussion to Jeffrey Epstein? And are there consequences for the leaker?

It’s an internal discussion re. getting markets moving in the aftermath of the financial crisis. No doubt of great interest to Epstein and his financial market clients.

Thrilled to be working with Martin, @mysociety.org & others on this - a brand new #FOI conference!

Join us (Birkbeck, London/online) on Thurs 19 Feb - sign up for free pretix.eu/mysociety/fo...

And sign up for details of a new FOI Network - more details to follow www.mysociety.org/transparency...

Large donations come in, ads start to pour out (about £35k's worth on Facebook in the last seven days, plus all the ones they ran across newspapers a week ago).

Late recusals: What the football regulator appointment tells us about conflicts of interest in Whitehall

In this opinion piece out today I argue that the current recusal process is not working as intended considering that both the Secretary of State for DCMS and the Prime Minister recused themselves *after* the substantial public decisions had been made. www.transparency.org.uk/news/late-re...

BREAKING: Our fake Chinese AI investor bought access into heart of Labour government Ex-Tory MP facilitated meetings with 10+ Labour MPs and met ministers in “cash-for-access operation”

🔴 BREAKING: Our fake Chinese AI investor bought access to 10+ Labour MPs and minister

Brand new investigation by Democracy for Sale and Led By Donkeys.

democracyforsale.substack.com/p/breaking-o...

Judge Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb said of Mr Gill in sentencing that "Allowing money to corrupt your moral compass constitutes a grave betrayal of the trust vested in you by the electorate."

Does crypto pose a threat to our democracy? Exploring how cryptocurrency works and potential risks the technology poses to political funding and democratic integrity.

🆕 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...

Keir Starmer's Election Reforms Will Leave UK Politics Exposed to Dark Money and Foreign Interference, Warns Labour MP The party's former Shadow Democracy Minister said the Government was failing to take the bold steps required to eliminate foreign interference in our elections

🔴Keir Starmer’s Election Reforms Will Leave UK Politics Exposed to Dark Money and Foreign Interference, Warns Labour MP

The party’s former Shadow Democracy Minister said the Government was failing to take the bold steps required to eliminate foreign interference in our elections

The Constitution Unit. Do the government's electoral reforms go far enough? 24 October 2025, 1:00pm–2:00pm. Cat Smith MP (Labour MP for Lancaster and Wyre). Rose Whiffen (Senior Research Officer at Transparency International UK). Tom Hawthorn (Head of Policy at the Electoral Commission). Prof David Howarth (Professor of Law and Public Policy at the University of Cambridge and former Electoral Commissioner). Chair: Prof Alan Renwick (Deputy Director of the Constitution Unit).

Does the elections white paper go far enough?

At 1pm tomorrow, join @catsmithmp.bsky.social, @rosewhiff.bsky.social, Tom Hawthorn and David Howarth at our free, online event to consider if the government's plans are sufficient to ensure electoral integrity.

Sign up 👉 www.ucl.ac.uk/social-histo....

Analysis reveals Government has implemented only two of 28 key changes to improve standards in public life New Ethics and Integrity Commission welcome, but action needed on long-standing recommendations

“Our analysis suggests the Government’s approach to improving standards remains piecemeal, falling short of the comprehensive change needed” @rosewhiff.bsky.social @transparencyuk.bsky.social

#UKPolitics #Standards

www.transparency.org.uk/news/analysi...

My colleague @rosewhiff.bsky.social marked international ‘day of democracy’ with this timely suggestion for what we need to do to protect our politics and elections from capture by parties’ ultra-wealthy backers:

"Money buys influence in British democracy"

My evidence from Parliament yesterday on threats from foreign influence in British politics.

Full video on the Democracy for Sale YouTube channel (Do subscribe!!)

www.youtube.com/@Democracy_f...

These sanctions include "public apology, remedial action, or removal of ministerial salary for a period." But outcomes vary, with Matt Hancock found to have 'technically breached' the ministerial code but stayed in post. Whereas Tulip Siddiq was not found in breach, but resigned nonetheless.

Starmer refuses to say if he will sack Rayner if she broke rules The PM's standards adviser is investigating if Rayner breached the ministerial code after underpaying stamp duty.

Worth noting in the Angela Rayner stamp duty debacle that, notwithstanding public pressure, the PM has discretion on what sanction, if any, to deliver. Since December 2022, as per a recommendation from CSPL, the Prime Minister has a range of sanctions to administer. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Office of the Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists - Public Profile

ORCL and Companies House records state Tim Allan is a current Director of the lobbying company 'Strand Partners'. orcl.my.site.com/CLR_Public_P.... How will this conflict of interests be managed?

Ministers tried to block publication of financial interests form The Cabinet Office spent £30,000 on a legal battle to prevent publication of a questionnaire for ministers.

"Government should embrace transparency as the default, not fight expensive legal battles to maintain unnecessary secrecy."

@rosewhiff.bsky.social @transparencyuk.bsky.social

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

#UKPolitics #Standards

🚨 Important intervention from the Committee on Standards in Public Life that they – like us and many others – are not happy with the government keeping the power to set the @electoralcommission.org.uk’s overall strategy.

Exclusive: Watchdog probes Starmer aide’s lobbying of Tories openDemocracy findings on Varun Chandra’s activities at Hakluyt prompted official watchdog to launch investigation

"A secret meeting between finance executives and a senior Tory cabinet minister arranged by Keir Starmer’s top business aide Varun Chandra has prompted the lobbying watchdog to launch an investigation into his former firm, Hakluyt & Company." www.opendemocracy.net/en/dark-mone...

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 ⬇️

The big problem with Labour's Election Bill? does *nothing* about scale of money in British politics

No donation caps.

No changes to sky-high spending limits

Ironically Bill dropped on same day as spending data from 2024 - showing the most expensive election in British history

Crackdown on foreign donations welcome, but bolder action needed to end corrupting influence of big money Anti-corruption campaigners warn more still to be done to protect UK democracy and restore trust in politics

🗣️ "Crackdown on foreign donations welcome, but bolder action needed to end corrupting influence of big money."

See our full statement on the government's new elections strategy published today ⤵️
www.transparency.org.uk/news/crackdo...

How is our electoral law enforced? With different legislation and bodies responsible for our electoral law we look at how these laws are enforced

🆕 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...

🆕 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 ⤵️