It’s very welcome to see the City of London Police's Domestic Corruption Unit making a major arrest in its fight to tackle corruption and fraud in PPE procurement that took place during the worst of the Covid pandemic. 👇 www.cityoflondon.police.uk/news/city-of...

Domestic Corruption Unit make arrest as part of investigation into Covid-19 PPE procurement

The Domestic Corruption Unit (DCU) has arrested one individual and carried out a number of warrants as part of a joint investigation with the National Health Service Counter Fraud Authority (NHSCFA).

cityoflondon.police.uk

Spotlight’s @kamilakingstone.bsky.social joined @georgemonbiot.bsky.social & @elliechowns.bsky.social for an Assemble discussion on how to tackle political corruption. They explored why stronger lobbying rules, political finance reform & tougher enforcement matter.

1. 🤝 The new Prime Minister has pledged to restore trust in politics. Delivering comprehensive lobbying reform would be one of the game-changing things he must do.

🚨 NEW: Following Andy Burnham's appointment as Prime Minister, the @ukanticorruptioncoalition.org has written to him on how tackling corruption and illicit finance can restore public trust and strengthen the UK's democratic resilience. www.ukanticorruptioncoalition.org/work/our-let...

Our letter to the new Prime Minister: Act on corruption and illicit finance to strengthen democratic resilience — UK Anti-Corruption Coalition

22 July 2026 Dear Prime Minister,   ...

ukanticorruptioncoalition.org

1. ⚠️ The decision by the Burnham administration to move the Public Sector Fraud Authority (PSFA) from the Cabinet Office to the Department of Work & Pensions is very concerning as it risks narrowing the fight to protect the public purse from fraud.

Machinery of Government changes: Fact Sheet

Details on changes to the machinery of government

gov.uk

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.

'Beyond the vibe-shift - five immediate things Burnham should do to mend politics' - LabourList

A failure toshow a serious commitment to restoring trust risks a catastrophic loss of faith in politics. Political reform must start now.

labourlist.org

1.🚨 High-stakes court battle today as London law firm Carter-Ruck & British businessman Mohamed Amersi contest whether the Solicitors Regulation Authority can view legally privileged material – a power that is essential for the regulator’s ability to investigate professional misconduct by lawyers.

High Court to test SRA privilege rights

Three-day hearing will be held over regulator's right to obtain solicitor-client discussions to conduct investigations.

lawgazette.co.uk

1. 👉 The independent review body on National Crime Agency officers’ pay last week condemned the decade-long failure to introduce pay reform at the agency as “wholly unacceptable.” As the government looks at rolling out major police reform, getting pay right couldn’t be more urgent.

National Crime Agency Remuneration Review Body Report: 2026

Recommendations from the National Crime Agency Remuneration Review Body on pay in the NCA.

gov.uk

1. 🚨 Today we publishe a joint statement with our civil society partners in Nigeria on the acquittal of Nigeria’s ex-oil minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke. Read on to find out why the UK acquittal is not a complete answer to the wider corruption allegations, and hear from our partners in Nigeria:

Joint statement: UK acquittal of former Nigerian oil minister Alison-Madueke is no answer to wider corruption allegations - Spotlight on Corruption

Last month a London jury acquitted Diezani Alison-Madueke, along with her brother Doye Agame and businesswoman Olatimbo Ayinde, of all bribery charges against them. This is a joint statement on behalf...

spotlightcorruption.org

1. 🚨 Jonathan Fisher KC has called for the government to “take the fight to the fraudsters” with bold reforms set out in his independent review of disclosure & fraud offences. Here are some toplines that caught our eye in the 583 pages of his combined reports & the government’s partial response. 🧵

Independent Review of Disclosure and Fraud Offences

This review has been set up to consider the challenges of investigating and prosecuting fraud cases and the operation of the disclosure regime in a digital age.

gov.uk

"Friends don't produce better PPE than strangers." Spotlight's Kamila Kingstone was on BBC Radio Scotland this morning to discuss the UK Covid-19 Inquiry's report on the VIP lane - why it should never be repeated, and the reforms still needed to prevent the next procurement scandal.

Could you bring expertise in fundraising, finance or anti-corruption to our Board? We're looking for new Trustees to help shape our strategy and support our work. If you're ready to help defend democracy and challenge corruption, we'd love to hear from you. eastsidepeople.org/vacancy/spot...

🚨 The Covid Inquiry has today published its report into PPE procurement, including the notorious VIP lane. VIP firms were 13x more likely to get contracts, costing 80% more, yet 3x more likely to supply unusable PPE. Minister’s must introduce reforms that ensure this never happens again.

1. 😷 The Covid Inquiry has just released its final report, focusing on procurement. Watch this short video, featuring Spotlight's Kamila Kingstone, to learn about the government's failures, and the lessons it must learn before the next crisis. www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlf0...

Behind the Masks: The COVID PPE Scandal Explained

YouTube video by Transparency International UK

youtube.com

📢 The Ethics and Integrity Commission new report recommends wide-ranging reforms that could bring far greater transparency to lobbying - if ministers act on them. Our latest blog analyses the EIC’s recommendations, and proposes how the govt must go further in bringing lobbying out of the shadows.

The lobbying review: a once-in-a-parliament opportunity to clean up lobbying - Spotlight on Corruption

The Ethics and Integrity Commission has published a landmark review, calling for sweeping reforms to lobbying and transparency rules. With trust in politicians at record lows, the government should cr...

spotlightcorruption.org

The government says "our politics is not for sale". But without caps on political donations and campaign spending, mega-donors will continue to dominate our politics. Ministers are playing with fire by ducking the reforms that matter most. Read our article in @left-foot-forward.bsky.social:

Our politics is still for sale

Spotlight on Corruption says that the government should introduce a universal donations cap and capped campaign spending limits

leftfootforward.org

Whistleblowers play a crucial role in bringing to light corruption & economic crime. This Protect campaign is well timed to influence policy, with a big whistleblowing consultation this summer & the gov due to weigh in on incentivising corporate insiders to blow the whistle on economic crime.

#whistleblowing | Protect

Did you blow the whistle at work? Your story could help change the law. We're collecting the real experiences of people who have spoken up about wrongdoing to help shape the upcoming #Whistleblowing ...

linkedin.com

It is deeply concerning when politicians seek to weaponise the issue of ethics and integrity to claim that legitimate investigations by established regulators are in fact illegitimate attempts to silence them.

1. Ahead of the Ethics & Integrity Commission's lobbying report this week, we're calling for fair public access to government. Why? Just as an example, our research shows 92% of Department for Business & Trade meetings between 2023-24 were with businesses - just 2% with not-for-profits.

A 13-year investigation. A five-month trial. An acquittal. We forensically examine the case against former Nigerian oil minister Diezani Alison-Madueke, & what her dramatic acquittal reveals about the UK's ability to tackle grand corruption, & the lessons that must be learned.

“There’s no point having laws if they aren’t enforced”. Spotlight’s Executive Director, @suehawley.bsky.social tells MPs on the HCLG Committee that the @electoralcommission.org.uk needs proper funding, resources and the enforcement appetite to make the Representation of the People Bill work.

🚨 Major new #McMafia order case revealed yesterday as a Dubai-based UK investment firm called Enspire Investments LLC has approached the High Court claiming to be the victim of a complex fraud by the targets of an Unexplained Wealth Order (UWO) who allegedly siphoned off their €45m investment.

Dubai-based investment firm claims victim status in £30 million dirty money case - Spotlight on Corruption

A major new McMafia order case was revealed yesterday, as a Dubai-based UK investment firm called Enspire Investments LLC approached the High Court claiming to be the victim of a complex fraud by the ...

spotlightcorruption.org

@suehawley.bsky.social talking about the foreign interference landscape in UK politics, the need for the AML regulated community to be brought into the fold and the rise in impermissible donations that have had to be returned by parties at the HCLG committee on Tuesday.

Brilliant new initiative by our friends at @tbij.bsky.social & @seethrujustice.transparencyproject.org.uk to promote open justice in the family courts by matching journalists with people who want their cases covered by the media. This Courting Coverage initiative is a clever way to bridge that gap!

Courting Coverage: our new initiative to increase family court…

We want to connect the reporters looking to cover the courts with the people whose cases warrant coverage

thebureauinvestigates.com

🚨 Major new #McMafia order case revealed today as a Dubai-based investment firm called Enspire Investments LLC has approached the High Court claiming to be the victim of a complex fraud by the targets of an Unexplained Wealth Order (UWO) who allegedly siphoned off their €45 million investment.

@suehawley.bsky.social giving evidence at yesterday's HCLG Committee oral evidence session, about why the ban on crypto political donations should not be lifted until & unless the Electoral Commission, key committees and parliament approves a robust regulatory framework.

When UK politicians are involved in orgs lobbying foreign govts, transparency and accountability matters just as much as when they’re lobbying in the UK. We’re quoted in this story about Action on World Health re-locating to the US, on why stronger rules on MPs' outside interests are needed.

Nigel Farage’s anti-WHO campaign moves to US with allies added to board

Relocation of Action on World Health raises questions over why Reform UK leader is involved in a US pressure group

theguardian.com

Spotlight's Executive Director @suehawley.bsky.social is quoted in the @financialtimes.com on the UK government's reported plans for a new "golden visa" scheme. As Sue warns, this would shred any claims that the UK’s is serious about tackling dirty money. Read more:
 www.ft.com/content/7ec3...

@suehawley.bsky.social spoke at a panel discussion on 'What next for standards in public life?' at the Constitution Unit Conference last week, about the three key things that government needs to do now to govern in technicolour instead of monochrome on standards in public life.

Constitution Unit Conference 2026: What next for standards in public life?

YouTube video by UCL Constitution Unit

youtube.com

£10.9bn was lost to fraud & error across the Covid schemes. The Govt's response to the Covid Counter-Fraud Commissioner is welcome, but doesn't go far enough to prevent huge losses to the public purse, & the real harm to ordinary people that fraud causes. Read @suehawley.bsky.social’s analysis:

Beyond Covid fraud - the Government must go further to protect public money - Spotlight on Corruption

The Government’s response to the Covid Counter-Fraud Commissioner is out. Largely, the Government has accepted the Commissioner’s recommendations for tackling fraud. Disappointingly though, the Govern...

spotlightcorruption.org