Rachel Davies

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...

Excellent news!!

💥 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.

🎥 "Because financial secrecy in our overseas territories has real-world consequences for my constituents... and for Britain's standing in the world."

@appgonacrt.bsky.social chair, @philbrickellmp.bsky.social introduces today's debate on ending financial secrecy in Britain's Overseas Territories.

Scottish Parliament passes land reform bill The legislation is designed to help reduce the concentration of rural land ownership among a small number of people.

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...

Research reveals £3.2 billion worth of property in Scotland held by opaque offshore trusts As MSPs debate new land reform legislation, loopholes could hide true owners of land and undermine Government and Parliament’s efforts

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...

Research reveals £3.2 billion worth of property in Scotland held by opaque offshore trusts As MSPs debate new land reform legislation, loopholes could hide true owners of land and undermine Government and Parliament’s efforts

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...

It might not make the ‘6’ tonight, but in our world this is big news.
Very welcome reforms that address a key weakness in Britain’s defences against dirty money entering our economy.
This puts the government firmly on the front foot ahead of next year’s international illicit finance summit. 👏

Take Big Money Out of Our Politics British politics is awash with money from super rich donors. In 2023, two-thirds of all private donations came from just 19 people. These so-called ‘mega donors’ enjoy privileged access to political p...

If you think politicians need to spend time listening to people like you, and not a select group of their wealthy donors, this petition has the key.
Add your name to call for a cap on political donations today - and please let your friends know about it too!

This is great news for @transparencyuk.bsky.social and our partners on this @spotlightcorruption.org @ukanticorruptioncoalition.org @rusi.bsky.social A major step forwards in tackling money laundering via the professional sectors 🎉

💷 2013 - 2023: Nearly 25% of political House of Lords nominations were party donors, giving £58m+ collectively.

At our event with @spotlightcorruption.org at Labour Conference, @duncanhames.bsky.social set out why big money's influence on UK democracy is damaging the public's trust.

Watch more ⬇️

We @transparencyuk.bsky.social are in the final push with our match-funded Big Give campaign to break big money's grip on UK politics. Your support can help us secure lasting reforms. All donations made before 21 October will be DOUBLED.

Read more & support here: donate.biggive.org/campaign/a05...

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

The new Ethics and Integrity Commission is a step towards a more coherent approach to standards in public life.

But our analysis suggests the Government’s approach so far to improving standards falls short of the comprehensive change needed.

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

New ethics watchdog a good start but serious gaps remain - Spotlight on Corruption Spotlight welcomes today’s official launch of the new Ethics and Integrity Commission but warns that there are serious gaps which means the body will face

Good to see @ethicsandintegrity.bsky.social officially begin its important work today although serious gaps remain. The EIC will be crucial if the UK is to make progress in driving up standards in public life and reversing the public’s scathing opinion of our politics, which is at record lows. A 🧵:

🚪🔚 Party Conferences Season 2025 comes to a close.

🏃🏻‍♂️‍➡️ We've been busy!

🌎 From Bournemouth to Aberdeen, Manchester to Liverpool, we discussed the urgent need to fight corruption, tackle dirty, and restore trust in our politics.

❤️ Thanks to all of you who joined us -- see you next year!

Reform UK’s ex-leader in Wales Nathan Gill pleads guilty to bribery charges Gill admits to eight charges while an elected member of the European parliament

🚨 NEW 🚨

Nathan Gill, the former leader of Reform UK in Wales has pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to eight bribery charges while an elected member of the European parliament.

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

📽️ NEW 📽️

Does the UK have a dark money problem?

Should we be worried?

As our Senior Research Officer, @rosewhiff.bsky.social explains - the public have a right to be concerned about the grip of dark money on our politics.

WHO PAYS, WHO DECIDES? BIG MONEY IN BRITISH POLITICS

📆Monday, 4.30pm | Nova Scotia | Liverpool

Join our Director of Policy, @duncanhames.bsky.social, @liambyrnemp.bsky.social, @suehawley.bsky.social & @edhodgsoned.bsky.social to hear about big money's influence on our democracy.

Looking forward to working with you, Kamila!

Labour ‘leaving public in the dark’ about payments from lobbyists A Times investigation found that party officials told lobbyists they could pay £18,000 in relation to parties for MPs and that the payments would not be disclosed

🗣️ “This investigation exposes exactly why the UK’s lobbying system is broken.”

As it's revealed party officials told lobbyists they could pay £18,000 for MP parties without disclosure, @rosewhiff.bsky.social warned of the failings in our lobbying transparency laws.

www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...

Really important investigation by @stefanboscia.bsky.social - @duncanhames.bsky.social is right about very serious questions here around conflicts of interest. The Elections Bill is a key opportunity to break the link between political donations and public contracts.

Police officers ‘also abused’ Rotherham grooming gang victims One says she was raped from the age of 12 by a South Yorkshire Police officer in a marked police car.

Corruption disproportionately affects women and girls and is often realised through sexual violence.

1/5

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

Authorities sound alarm on new money laundering threats The latest National Money Laundering Risk Assessment finds up to £10 billion in illicit flows through UK property each year

🆕 BLOG 🆕

Up to £10 billion could be laundered through UK property each year, according to the latest government risk assessment.

From opaque trusts to crypto schemes, criminals are finding new ways to hide dirty money.

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

Take Big Money Out of Our Politics British politics is awash with money from super rich donors. In 2023, two-thirds of all private donations came from just 19 people. These so-called ‘mega donors’ enjoy privileged access to political p...

💷 In 2023 66% of private donations to political parties came from just 19 donors - between them donating over £56 million.

⛓️‍💥 It's time to end the mega-rich's grip on our politics.

❗ It's time to cap politician donations.

Add your name to the call ⤵️
you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/ta...

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 ⬇️

🎥 There are some positive things in there around political donations... But these measures ignore the elephant in the room... the growing reliance of political parties on a small number of wealthy backers and the corrupting influence of big money in politics.

Our reaction to today's announcement ⤵️

How to secretly pour £60m into British politics Exposed: The loophole that AfD-linked billionaires, hard Brexiteers and other anonymous donors use to bankroll politicians

“That unincorporated associations have donated such enormous sums while operating with minimal oversight represents a fundamental weakness in our democratic safeguards”

@duncanhames.bsky.social @transparencyuk.bsky.social

democracyforsale.substack.com/p/how-to-sec...

#UKPolitics #DirtyMoney

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...

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

🔍 We’ve just added 5,500+ new meetings to our Open Access database of Westminster and Holyrood meetings with external organisations.

Check out the new data here⤵️ openaccess.transparency.org.uk