Transparency International UK

📻 "This whole saga will reinforce public concerns that those with money also have privileged access to power and use that in their own interests."

Earlier today @duncanhames.bsky.social told @lbc.co.uk how the Mandelson scandal shows action is needed on money and influence in our politics.

Mandelson allegations show urgent need for stronger misconduct laws

Peter Mandelson allegations @transparencyuk.bsky.social:

‘The allegations as reported would amount to a serious abuse of power … Any investigation should examine whether offences have been committed under both the Bribery Act and misconduct in public office’

www.transparency.org.uk/news/mandels...

Mandelson allegations show urgent need for stronger misconduct laws

🗣️ "If proven, the allegations as reported would amount to a serious abuse of entrusted power at the heart of government during a national crisis."

Read out statement on the latest Mandelson allegations ⤵️
www.transparency.org.uk/news/mandels...

Open Access UK: monitor lobbying meetings with in the UK Who’s #lobbying the UK? Check Open Access UK

🔍 Who's lobbying your politicians?

Our Open Access database reveals 163,000+ Westminster and Holyrood meetings with external organisations since 2012.

Search who's meeting the PM, the Defence Secretary, or even your own MP.

Transparency matters. Explore the data ⤵️

Trust Issues: Tackling the final frontier in secret property ownership

🔍This follows our own research last year, which uncovered that trusts were used to buy £2.1 billion worth of property with concerning connections to illicit wealth.

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Revealed: the foreign owners ‘hiding’ £190bn worth of UK property A new investigation uncovers what is likely to be a mass breach of the government’s anticorruption rules, involving almost 45,000 properties

🗣️"There is still some way to go in order for us to know who owns properties here.”

@margotmollat.bsky.social spoke with @thetimes.com about how @danneidle.bsky.social latest research again shows how oligarchs can use trusts to hide their identity and launder their dirty money.

More ⤵️

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The Independent joins 120 high-profile names backing calls to end silencing lawsuits Letter demanding government include anti-SLAPP provisions in next King’s speech ‘sends powerful message British courts should not be abused to silence protected speech’

🗣️ "It is the Government’s duty to protect us from this system being weaponised against free expression"

We’ve joined 120 journalists, experts and civil society groups backing calls for the government to end SLAPPs in the next King’s Speech.

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...

143. Rachel Davies and Tom Shipley on the UK's new anticorruption strategy

Also available on Spotify ⤵️

143. Rachel Davies and Tom Shipley on the UK's new anticorruption strategy Podcast Episode · KickBack - The Global Anticorruption Podcast · 01/22/2026 · 35m

📻"This is the great test of our era - restoring trust in government - but yet it doesn't deliver an adequate plan for how it's going to restore that trust."

@racheldavies.bsky.social spoke with @csc-barrington.bsky.social & @tshipley1.bsky.social about the UK's new Anti-Corruption Strategy.

More ⤵️

This @theferret.scot deep-dive into lobbying in Scotland shows exactly why our lobbying laws need strengthening.

➡️ More about how regulation could be improved in our blog: www.ercs.scot/news/how-to-...
➡️ @transparencyuk.bsky.social lobbying tracker: openaccess.transparency.org.uk

Political parties took thousands from lobbying groups in Scotland. Campaigners say they are buying access to power Political parties have accepted thousands of pounds from lobbyists in recent years. Anti-corruption campaigners claimed donations buy lobby firms “privileged access” to politicians for their wealthy c...

🗣️ "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...

Open Access UK: monitor lobbying meetings with in the UK Who’s #lobbying the UK? Check Open Access UK

🖥️ Who's shaping the UK's AI policy?

Between July-September 2025, "AI infrastructure" and "technology policy" were among the top lobbying topics at Westminster.

Tech giants? Start-ups?

Find out which companies and lobbyists had ministers' ears ⤵️
openaccess.transparency.org.uk

How Corrupt is the UK? With Daniel Bruce Democracy:Differently · Episode

❓ How corrupt is the UK?

Our Chief Executive Daniel Bruce launched season two of the Democracy:Differently Podcast with Keith Hyams and Jess Sutherland discussing the influence money has on politics and what it means for our democracy?

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6IMHHpreJR1ZBkkQQaQPH0

Grossly improper: How Gibraltar's Chief Minister interfered in a criminal investigation A public inquiry found Gibraltar's Chief Minister made 'grossly improper' attempts to interfere in a criminal investigation – so why is his government responsible for implementing the reforms needed t...

🆕 BLOG

A public inquiry found Gibraltar's Chief Minister made 'grossly improper' attempts to interfere in a criminal investigation.

Now his government is responsible for implementing reforms to prevent this happening again.

Read more ⤵️
www.transparency.org.uk/news/grossly...

🎥 "Have they moved as fast as I would have liked? No."

This week @sdoughtymp.bsky.social spoke to to the Lords Constitution Committee explaining that more needs to be done by Britain's Overseas Territories to improve corporate transparency.

We agree - it's time to end offshore corporate secrecy.

📝 BLOG

The UK's new Anti-Corruption Strategy acknowledges defence corruption risks but offers thin solutions.

With record defence spending increases we need systemic reform and tighter lobbying rules.

Read more from our Defence and Security team ⤵️
www.transparency.org.uk/news/uk-anti...

Meet the octogenarian battling a notorious British tax haven Margaret Hodge, the brains behind Britain’s 2018 law to force transparency on overseas territories, is going toe-to-toe with the British Virgin Islands.

💥Anti-corruption champion Margaret Hodge is demanding the British Virgin Islands implement public beneficial ownership registers after years of delays.

We have warned the BVI's 'tip-off' proposals would put journalists and civil society at serious risk.

www.politico.eu/article/marg...

Canada, France and Australia cap political donations. Why not the UK? 🇬🇧
In the latest blog, @jonnarcross.bsky.social of @transparencyuk.bsky.social explores how 67% of the British public want an end to big money in politics 🗳️ @yougov.co.uk
Read more 👇
www.radixbigtent.org.uk/news-comment...

Is the UK corrupt? Join hosts Keith and Jess for the first episode of #DemocracyDifferently season 2 as they discuss dark money, corruption and much more with CEO of @anticorruption.bsky.social, Daniel Bruce.

Listen wherever you get your podcasts!

🆕 BLOG

The government's Anti-Corruption Strategy is welcome, but political integrity reforms are threadbare.

Over two-thirds of the public believe politicians act out of self-interest. More action is needed to restore trust.

Read more ⤵️
www.transparency.org.uk/news/how-far...

🎥 "I don't think it's actually helpful to think of foreign interference and the financial methods of that as [just] being about changing an electoral outcome.

Yesterday, Duncan Hames spoke MPs and Peers about the different forms and threats of foreign interference in our politics.

🎥 "The situation we have at the end of the day is... whatever rules you have, all of this conversation is about policing the perimeter."

Yesterday @duncanhames.bsky.social gave evidence to parliament and explained to MPs and Peers why caps on donations are key to ending undue influence in politics.

Latest YouGov poll shows the public want an end to big money in politics

🆕 POLLING

New YouGov polling shows 67% of the public want political donations capped at £50k or less.

The public has spoken loud and clear – it's time to get big money out of UK politics.

Read more ⤵️
https://www.transparency.org.uk/news/latest-yougov-poll-shows-public-want-end-big-money-politics

How a £46 billion criminal enterprise made the UK its second home What the Prince Group shows us about the UK’s dirty money problem

📝 BLOG

What the Prince Group shows us about the UK’s dirty money problem.

As Prince Group founder Chen Zhi is extradited to China, read our blog on how the group made the UK its second home.

www.transparency.org.uk/news/how-ps4...

Open Access UK: monitor lobbying meetings with Government Who’s #lobbying the UK Parliament? Check Open Access UK

🕵️ Who's lobbying your politicians?

Our Open Access database reveals 163,000+ Westminster and Holyrood meetings with external organisations since 2012.

Search who's meeting with key ministers from fossil fuel companies to think tanks.

Explore the data ⤵️
openaccess.transparency.org.uk

From strategy to action: What the UK's new anti-corruption plan gets right (and where it falls short) Our analysis of the new Anti-Corruption Strategy

The Strategy is a wide-ranging effort to tackle the threat of corruption to the UK.

However, a lack of concrete action in some areas - such as standards in public life and political finance laws - leaves the UK vulnerable to corruption and foreign interference in our democracy.

More⤵

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Last Monday, our CEO @danieljbruce.bsky.social joined the @ukanticorruptioncoalition.org panel event at the launch of the UK’s Anti-Corruption Strategy.

While it is a comprehensive effort to tackle corruption, more ambitious reforms are still desperately needed.

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How a £46 billion criminal enterprise made the UK its second home What the Prince Group shows us about the UK’s dirty money problem

🆕 BLOG

A transnational criminal enterprise spent £180m on UK property, sent their kids to British private schools and made London a second home.

Find out what the Prince Group shows us about the UK’s dirty money problem in our latest blog.

Read more ⤵️
www.transparency.org.uk/news/how-ps4...

We welcome the government's review into foreign interference in UK politics.

But we already know some of the issues at play and how to solve them.

Read our statement ⤵️
https://www.transparency.org.uk/news/foreign-interference-review-welcome-donation-caps-only-way-break-stranglehold-big-money-over

📺 MPs debate foreign interference on security, trade and democracy.

Legal loopholes can allow money from home and abroad to unduly influence our politics.

That's why we need to a donation cap to protect our politics from the influence of big money and build a truly fair democracy.