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Duncan Hames

@duncanhames.bsky.social

Director of Policy @TransparencyUK.bsky.social, governor at Westminster Foundation for Democracy, JRRT director, and former MP (2010-15). Husband to @joswinson.bsky.social, Dad to 3 boys, and recent King’s war studies MA. All views here are my own etc.

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

📆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 · 2w 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...

Pete Apps@peteapps.bsky.social · 2w ago

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

Duncan Hames@duncanhames.bsky.social · 2w ago

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 · 2w 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.

Duncan Hames@duncanhames.bsky.social · 3w ago

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 · 3w 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.

Vijay Rangarajan, Chief Executive, Electoral Commission, 3 Bunhill Row, London EC1Y 8YZ Samantha Dixon MBE MP Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Building Safety, Fire and Democracy 2 Marsham Street London SW1P 4DF 10 July 2026 Dear Vijay, This Government is committed to strengthening our democracy and upholding the integrity of our elections. In December 2025, in light of the Nathan Gill case, and the deeply concerning evidence of Russian state-linked actors’ attempt to influence democracy in the UK, the Government appointed Philip Rycroft to lead an independent review into foreign financial interference in UK politics. The review set out to rigorously test the financial safeguards we currently have in place and recommend areas for improving mitigations. The Government has welcomed Philip Rycroft’s report and has accepted all of his recommendations, and ahead of Commons Report Stage, the Government has tabled amendments to the Representation of the People Bill to deliver key recommendations from the Review to further strengthen safeguards against foreign financial interference in UK politics. In his report, Philip Rycroft argued that reducing spending limits could potentially relieve some of the fund-raising pressure, in turn diminishing the inducement to look to non-permissible sources to stay ahead. However, he refrained from making a recommendation believing it sat outside of his remit, noting it could be something that could be usefully debated during the passage of the Representation of the People Bill. Party spending limits were raised significantly for the first time in 2023, and since then we have seen many stakeholders argue for lower limits, including Transparency International and Spotlight on Corruption. Considering the concerns I have heard during the course of the Bill, and the wider views presented by Mr Rycroft and other stakeholders, I am of the opinion that an independent assessment is …
Transparency International UK@transparencyuk.bsky.social · 3w ago

🎥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.

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

📝"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

Sam Bright@writesbright.bsky.social · 3w ago

🔴 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

Duncan Hames@duncanhames.bsky.social · 3w ago

The COVID Inquiry report just published found almost £10 billion of the £14.9 billion spent on PPE during the pandemic was wasted, and that the so-called VIP lane for procurement was "inherently biased towards those with connections to the UK government".

Covid Inquiry confirms VIP lane was biased towards the politically connected, wasting billions in public money

Transparency International UK respond to the COVID-19 Module 5 Report

transparency.org.uk

Duncan Hames@duncanhames.bsky.social · 3w ago

With MPs set to vote tomorrow to control money in politcs, @guardianheather.bsky.social sums-up the case: "it is wrong in principle, and dangerous in practice, for a new class of mega-donors to bankroll British politics. Donations should be capped; and if Starmer does not act, his successor must."

UK must cap political donations to stop the rich buying influence | Heather Stewart

If Keir Starmer won’t act then his successor should – by restricting the power of a small group of mega-donors

theguardian.com

Duncan Hames@duncanhames.bsky.social · 4w ago

Will we learn the lessons from the scandal of VIP lane purchasing of masks and more during the pandemic? Watch this short film now, and find out on Tuesday:

Transparency International UK@transparencyuk.bsky.social · 4w ago

🆕 5,000 Covid contracts worth around £45bn. We found 135 worth £15bn carrying red flags for possible corruption. The VIP lane, ruled unlawful, delivered worse PPE at higher prices. The Covid Inquiry reports on Tuesday. Watch our film first ⤵️ www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlf0...

Duncan Hames@duncanhames.bsky.social · 4w ago

On Tuesday, MPs will debate controls on the money in politics. We @transparencyuk.bsky.social think it is time they put a cap on the biggest donations anyone can make. Please ask your MP to support this call:

Count Binface alone can‘t clean up British politics. MPs now have that chance, and they must seize it | Stella Creasy

Amid the allegations about dark money and funding, I have a solution: limit all single donations in a year – from any individual – to £100,000, says MP Stella Creasy

theguardian.com

Transparency International UK@transparencyuk.bsky.social · 4w ago

Right now, just 4-6% of lobbying has to be declared. The rest happens in the dark. The Ethics and Integrity Commission has just handed ministers a serious blueprint for cleaning up lobbying. A serious, welcome blueprint. Now ministers have to deliver it. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

All lobbying should be publicly declared in transparency laws shake-up, watchdog says

Ethics and integrity commission chief says overhaul is crucial to help restore trust in standards

theguardian.com

Duncan Hames@duncanhames.bsky.social · 4w ago

Most welcome proposals from the new Ethics and Integrity Commission to open-up the hidden world of lobbying. If ministers really were serious when setting it up, they should now act on its recommendations.

Transparency International UK@transparencyuk.bsky.social · 4w ago

Right now, just 4-6% of lobbying has to be declared. The rest happens in the dark. The Ethics and Integrity Commission has just handed ministers a serious blueprint for cleaning up lobbying. A serious, welcome blueprint. Now ministers have to deliver it. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Jim Waterson@jim.londoncentric.media · 4w ago

A building on Edinburgh’s most prominent street that housed a series of tax-evading gift shops (London Centric came across it while investigating a connected network of gift shops in London’s Trocadero building) suffered a severe fire last night.

EdinburghMinute.com@edinburghminute.com · 4w ago

Building on fire is part of 109-112 Princes Street complex, ex River Island + Levi's (next to Debenhams), all closed. Site owner Criterion Capital plans to build Zedwell hotel there. Linked to row of tax-evading gift shops: edinburghminute.com/tax-evading-... exposed by @jim.londoncentric.media:

Duncan Hames@duncanhames.bsky.social · last mo.

I spoke to @tomburgis.bsky.social about what's behind the recent injections of big money into poltics from some extremely wealthy people. We’re seeing a concentration of wealth and power on a scale unprecedented in modern history, risking state capture through extreme wealth and new technologies.

Trump’s $2bn bonanza heralds the rise of political grifters across the west

With voters embracing leaders who brazenly monetise public office, experts say an ethical code is breaking down

theguardian.com

Steve Goodrich@stevejgoodrich.bsky.social · last mo.

Gov's overseas voter donor cap is: - overly complicated - designed to target one man and one party - fails to do that effectively - misses the point (that it's big donors generally, not just Harborne that are the problem) Cap all donations and then we're talking! observer.co.uk/news/politic...

Crypto billionaires face 12-month block on political dona...

New bill proposes restriction for overseas voters returning to the UK in bid to protect electoral system from potential foreign interference

observer.co.uk

Duncan Hames@duncanhames.bsky.social · last mo.

“a one-year ban is tinkering around the edges” we call for an annual cap on donations, instead of “overly complicated solutions focused on one man”. @stevejgoodrich.bsky.social Backbenchers are planning to table an amendment calling for a universal cap of £100,000 reports @catneilan.bsky.social

Cat Neilan@catneilan.bsky.social · last mo.

Exc: Crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne will be blocked from making further donations to Reform for a year after relocating to the UK, the Observer understands This is just one of several measures in the beefed IP Representation of the People Bill observer.co.uk/news/politic...