Rose Whiffen

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 ⤵️

We have new opinion polling on House of Lords reform!

There is overwhelming public support to go beyond the government's current plans to remove hereditary peers (due to be debated in the Lords on Wednesday), including to limit prime ministerial appointments and cap the chamber's size.

A thread 👇

Giving evidence on second jobs The Standards Committee is looking at outside employment and interests - we shared what we'd learned from our WhoFundsThem work.

Write up of evidence session for the Standards Committee the other week www.mysociety.org/2025/06/05/g...

🗣️ "When there's nothing left to buy, what is it that money can't buy? Well, it turns out that money can buy politics, and that's what they've set out to do."

In Parliament last night @duncanhames.bsky.social set out why we must stop billionaires like Elon Musk buying power in our politics.

What do political parties, politicians and political campaigners spend money on? UK political spending involves complex regulations with separate limits for parties, candidates, and campaigners.

What do political parties, politicians and political campaigners spend money on?

The second in @transparencyuk.bsky.social's explainer series about money in politics from myself and @rosewhiff.bsky.social www.transparency.org.uk/news/what-do...

🗣️ "...all second jobs should be prohibited except those that maintain a professional qualification or provide an essential public service."

Earlier this week @rosewhiff.bsky.social gave evidence to House of Commons Committee on Standards on the need to end second jobs for MPs.

Ah you're too kind! 😄

How are political parties and politicians funded? @rosewhiff.bsky.social from @transparencyuk.bsky.social explains www.transparency.org.uk/news/how-are...

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 👇

Behind closed doors: emerging lobbying trends in the new Labour government

You can find our full analysis on the flurry of lobbying activity around legislation on Football regulation, tobacco and more on our website.

Read more ⤵️

www.transparency.org.uk/news/behind-...

Letters: June 2025 Keir Starmer’s tough balancing act, springing to Europe’s defence, the truth about Chagos, and farewell to Tom Martin

A succinct and persuasive case for substantive political finance reform from @rosewhiff.bsky.social in the latest edition of @prospectmagazine.co.uk www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/views/letter...

UK Election Officials Are Not Keeping Any Records of How Many Overseas Donors Are Bankrolling UK Politics Democracy campaigners are calling for urgent reform of UK electoral laws, as Nigel Farage's party launches a fundraising drive among voters living in overseas tax havens

🔴 UK Election Officials Are Not Keeping Any Records of How Many Overseas Donors Are Bankrolling UK Politics

Democracy campaigners are calling for urgent reform of UK electoral laws, as Nigel Farage’s party launches a fundraising drive among voters living in overseas tax havens

‘Loopholes you can walk through’: UK lobbying industry calls for tighter rules Regulator wants overhaul of legislation to end numerous exemptions

🗣️ The law “is not only riddled with loopholes but deliberately structured to omit crucial information about who lobbies politicians [and] their financial resources”

@rosewhiff.bsky.social spoke to the @financialtimes.com on the need for tighter rules on lobbying.

www.ft.com/content/fb26...

Levelling the playing field: How economic policy gets captured and what to do about it - Spotlight on Corruption Fair and transparent decision-making in government is critical for addressing historically low levels of public trust in the UK. Recent surveys have shown

🚨 Our new report finds:
👉 Firms giving the most hospitality to government decision-makers are also getting the most meetings
👉 businesses meet decision-makers 23 more times than public interest groups. The public interest risks getting sidelined as a result

📺 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.

Ruling on Peter Mandelson’s firm shows Britain’s lobbying laws are a farce The lobbying watchdog has cleared almost every case it has investigated. Why? Because our laws are designed to be ineffective.

NEW: Last year Peter Mandelson's lobbying firm Global Counsel paid £35k to second a staffer to shadow Treasury minister Tulip Siddiq

A months later Siddiq wanted advice on financial services reform. Guess who she called?

Yep, Global Counsel.

democracyforsale.substack.com/p/ruling-on-...

Letter from the Minister for Homelessness and Democracy A letter from the Minister for Homelessness and Democracy to CSPL Chair, Doug Chalmers on regulating election finance

👍 Good to see minister @rushanaraalibgs.bsky.social agreeing that “Robust regulation and enforcement of political finance rules are crucial for maintaining public trust ... and combatting the threat of foreign interference” in her recent letter to the Committee on Standards in Public Life.