“A lot of people in this country care about sovereignty…”

Daniel Bruce@danieljbruce.bsky.social · yesterday

Reform UK foreign donation allegations: @transparencyuk.bsky.social’s @duncanhames.bsky.social analyses the @channel4news.bsky.social findings with @lbc.co.uk’s @mrjamesob.bsky.social #UKPolitics

With all respect to the BBC, the reason this story "matters" is not about whether it distracts from Reform's conference. It "matters" because it is important our leaders are not conspiring to break the law.

It’s a crowded field, but the jaw-dropping moment for me is when Orr reels off all the other illicit donors who have illicitly donated one to Reform via illicit means, like this is helpful

The conspiracy filmed here replicates other allegations of channelling donations on behalf of family members not permitted to make UK political donations. Those now warrant official investigation.

Channel 4 News@channel4news.bsky.social · 4d ago

Undercover footage verified by Channel 4 News reveals a secret plot by senior Reform UK figures to break the law on party donations. A leading legal expert is now calling for a criminal investigation. 🔗 Read the exclusive story on Substack:

"People who hold positions of power, influence and money don't want new kids on the block succeeding." Fortunately for Nigel Farage, he knows a friendly crypto-billionnaire, who does:

Reform up against 'complainants' society', Nigel Farage tells BBC

The Reform UK leader said a "whole ecosystem" didn't want "new kids on the block succeeding".

bbc.co.uk

Chequebooks are already circling the next election. The PM should act on the calls of his own backbenchers and cap how much money any one person can give MPs or political parties.

Transparency International UK@transparencyuk.bsky.social · 6d ago

MPS DEBATE BILLIONAIRE DONORS TOMORROW Today @stellacreasy.bsky.social asked the PM whether he will commit to a donations cap before the next election. Hear more ⤵️

PM Andy Burnham today faced questions about money in politics in the House of Commons. We @transparencyuk.bsky.social support the amendments tabled for tomorrow's debate by @stellacreasy.bsky.social and @anneliesedoddsmp.bsky.social. A case made well here:

The rich and powerful are already trying to sway the next election – I have a plan to stop them | Stella Creasy

A bill proposing a cap on donations is up for debate this week. We must seize this chance to keep big money out of our politics, says MP Stella Creasy

theguardian.com

This by @emilythornberry.bsky.social, like other amendments now tabled, is very good. Her new clause 86 in particular, is rather clever. The Starmer plan to tackle big money in politics was never enough. Will any MPs persuade @andyburnham.bsky.social of this at #PMQs tomorrow?

PoliticsHome@politicshome.bsky.social · 6d ago

Plans to stop foreign money influencing our politics must be stronger. That's why I am tabling amendments to the Representation of the People Bill A £100k cap on overseas donations does not go far enough. My clause would ban overseas donations altogether, writes @emilythornberry.bsky.social

Returning home from an intense review of anti-corruption measures in Taiwan, I found we share some common challenges, but also a resolve to defend our democracies from those who would exploit them from abroad or undermine from within their work in service of the public interest:

International experts affirm Taiwan’s anti-corruption efforts, offer recommendations - Taipei Times

Five international experts on the review committee for Taiwan’s third report under the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) said yesterday that Taiwan has established a mature and innovative anti-...

taipeitimes.com

The view from the @theguardian.com is that Andy Burnham is about to make quite some mistake, if he ducks the chance to tackle big money in British Politics:

The Guardian view on political donations: Labour should curb the power of big money | Editorial

Editorial: Before becoming prime minister, Andy Burnham favoured a £500,000 donations cap. In office, he’s backing away. That is a mistake

theguardian.com

Yes, it can, but we need MPs to tell the new Government next week, that it must act now. Please watch and share:

Transparency International UK@transparencyuk.bsky.social · 2w ago

🆕 EP3: CAN BRITISH DEMOCRACY BE SAVED? Andy Burnham enters Downing Street inheriting a political funding problem his predecessor promised to tackle and didn't. Three months ago, he even backed a cap on donations himself. The final episode of our series w/ PeterGeoghegan is out now ⤵

WATCH: Episode 2 is out now. Featuring a solution widely back by the public, but not the politicians:

Transparency International UK@transparencyuk.bsky.social · 2w ago

🆕 EPISODE 2: HOW MEGA DONATIONS DESTROY PUBLIC TRUST More than four in five Britons (83%) believe wealthy individuals use political donations to influence the government in their own personal interests. Watch episode 2 now of our new series with @petergeoghegan.bsky.social ⤵

For the latest episode, and plenty of more interesting people, do subscribe to our Youtube channel: www.youtube.com/@Transparenc...

Transparency International UK

Transparency International UK challenges corruption and fights for a fair society based on the rule of law. We work to change and strengthen the system so that those with power cannot abuse it for pri...

youtube.com

Transparency International UK@transparencyuk.bsky.social · 2w ago

🗣️"In a democracy, politics is meant to be serving the public interest". @duncanhames.bsky.social in Ep. 2 of 'Going, Going, Almost Gone: How the super rich are buying UK democracy', releasing tomorrow. Catch up on Ep. 1 & subscribe to our channel to not miss it ⤵️ www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dn-G...

An official from Reform UK told Politico's London Playbook that the Government walking away from a political donations cap is “very good news for us.”

Labour’s Farage donor crackdown hits a Downing Street roadblock

A domestic donations cap will not be in the elections bill when it returns next month.

politico.eu

WATCH: It’s about time we did something about the big money entering British politics.

Transparency International UK@transparencyuk.bsky.social · 3w ago

🎬 EPISODE 1: HOW BIG MONEY IS CORRUPTING UK POLITICS 🗣️ "We're in an arms race, and we're in an arms race with no guardrails" - @suehawley.bsky.social Today we publish Episode 1 of Going, Going, Almost Gone: How the Super-Rich Are Buying UK Democracy with @petergeoghegan.bsky.social 1/3

💷 Corruption, tax avoidance and UK high streets Our research with @coramazov.bsky.social at The Fence helped uncover a business network originating in Afghanistan linked with candy & souvenir stores in London buying up millions of pounds of UK property. More below ⤵️

The Graveyard of Empires

How did the British high street become littered with American Candy stores? The answer lies in Afghanistan.

the-fence.com

🔴 All Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs) are not allowed to accept secretariat services “funded directly or indirectly by a foreign government”. But we found that some cross-party groups are being funded by foreign states. New on Democracy for Sale: democracyforsale.substack.com/p/revealed-t...

Revealed: the foreign governments behind Westminster's cross-party groups

Foreign states aren't meant to fund the organisations running parliamentary groups. Our investigation found evidence that some do.

democracyforsale.substack.com

Your regular reminder that there is an elections bill before parliament that is currently pretty thin but which could actually legislate to stop this happening in the U.K…..

Henry Mance@henrymance.ft.com · 4w ago

What a bonkers statistic as.ft.com/r/3b0a9bd3-a...

And yet here in the UK politicians resist calls to introduce a cap on political donations. Money in politics stops power ever reaching the people.

Henry Mance@henrymance.ft.com · 4w ago

What a bonkers statistic as.ft.com/r/3b0a9bd3-a...

“Money out of politics. Money in your pocket” - sounds like a call that could work here too…

Abdul El-Sayed's victory sends tremors through Democratic Party

His win in Michigan sets up a high-stakes contest in November, testing a left-wing candidate's popularity in a swing state.

bbc.co.uk

When it is this easy for someone on the other side of the world to assert residence here and register to vote, it shows how inadequate capping donations only of overseas voters will be. A cap on donations made by any individual would be simpler, fairer, and more straightforward to enforce.

How a crypto billionaire used ‘gaping loopholes’ to bankroll Reform

Meet Christopher Harborne, the billionaire bankrolling Reform UK.

channel4.com

Police investigate donations by Tice company to Reform UK. “Two people have so far been interviewed under caution” the Met Police reveal, following a referral by the Electoral Commission.

Police investigate donations by Richard Tice company to Reform UK

Britain Means Business, owned by the party’s deputy leader Richard Tice, made two donations of £250,000 in the run-up to the 2024 general election.

bbc.co.uk

📆Three years ago today, Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu - an LSE economist who exposed corruption in Azerbaijan's oil sector - was arrested in Baku. The UK's new Foreign Secretary should increase efforts to advocate for his release, and stop Azerbaijani dirty money being laundered through the UK. More ⤵️

Steve Goodrich@stevejgoodrich.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Anniversaries are seldom fun in my line of work, and this one is no exception: 3yrs since Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu was arrested by the Azerbaijani authorities. We've had four Foreign Secretaries since then. I hope the new one will advocate for his release. www.transparency.org.uk/news/uk-anti...

In November, a lobbying firm approached me and asked to pay me to write articles critical of the Building Safety Regulator for newspapers. Filmed undercover, their staff admitted secretly paying reporters for copy in British newspapers friendly to their clients: www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Lobbying giant filmed offering reporter payment for flattering client coverage in national press

Exclusive: Guardian investigation of CT Group uncovers practice that appears to seek hidden influence over public opinion

theguardian.com

Five moves for Andy Burnham to clean up Westminster’s politics: cap political donations, open-up lobbying, end MPs’ side hustles, properly vet new Lords, and strengthen standards watchdogs. This is a crucial agenda for change from @suehawley.bsky.social on @labourlist.bsky.social.

Spotlight on Corruption@spotlightcorruption.org · 2mo ago

Burnham has promised to do politics differently. But the vibe shift won’t be enough. In @labourlist.bsky.social, @suehawley.bsky.social sets out 5 practical reforms the new PM should deliver in his first 100 days - from capping political donations to bringing corporate lobbying out of the shadows.

Political Party leaders nominated yet another cohort of new peers last week, but this isn't a post about *who* they chose. All three have now embraced an expactation that they should defend the merits of their choice publicly, which is a welcome step. E.g. Kemi Badenoch here: x.com/KemiBadenoch...

Kemi Badenoch (@KemiBadenoch) on X

https://t.co/cCVKARoOUx

x.com

Ahead of the report stage of the Government's elections bill, the minister has now asked @electoralcommission.org.uk to assess the adequacy of current spending limits. We @transparencyuk.bsky.social have argued that they were raised excessively in 2023, fuelling parties' need to raise more funds.

Josiah Mortimer@josiahmortimer.bsky.social · 2mo ago

The Government has just asked the Electoral Commission to review election spending limits, which were massively hiked by the Tories. Could be very significant.

🎥The Covid Inquiry report exposed the failures of the VIP lane for PPE contracts. Money was wasted and trust was broken in a time of critical need. It is imperative the current Government learns from these mistakes and takes steps to ensure this never happens again.

📝"Introducing a new investor visa route may lead to questions around Britain’s credibility in the global fight against money laundering." @bcowdock.bsky.social on the well established corruption risks of investor visas. More ⤵

Doomed to repeat it: why the UK shouldn't reopen the golden visa door

Reports suggest ministers are considering a new investor visa route. Here's why the risks still outweigh the rewards.

transparency.org.uk

🔴 NEW 🔴 Nigel Farage pocketed £2.3 million in income and donor gifts during his first two years as Clacton’s MP - equivalent to £22,000 a week. 📝 New @desmog.com report 👇🏻

Nigel Farage Made £2.3 Million in Two Years While Serving as Clacton’s MP

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage amassed £2.3 million in income and gifts during his first two years in Parliament, DeSmog can report. On 7 July, Farage announced that he would be resigning as Clacton’s ...

desmog.com