๐ฅ BIG MONEY IS CORRUPTING OUR POLITICS ๐ฅ
UK politics has a big money problem ๐ท
The super-rich use money to buy honours, influence and access to power. It erodes trust in our politics and undermines our democracy.
The UK needs a cap on donations to end big money in our politics.
More below โคต๏ธ
๐ท MONEY SHOULDN'T BUY ACCESS TO POWER ๐ท
Big money is corrupting our politics.
The super-rich use their wealth to buy access to power, political influence, and even seats in the House of Lords.
And the public? We're the one's paying the price.
๐ซ It's the bill the UK can no longer afford.
โ5 MINUTES
@duncanhames.bsky.social will be joining a brilliant panel for a timely conversation on what is needed in the upcoming Elections Bill to stop big money corrupting our democracy.
Details below โคต๏ธ
๐๏ธ TOMORROW
On Tuesday, the Gov confirmed it will end Ministers' ability to influence our elections watchdog.
Big money's threat to UK politics however, remains unaddressed.
Tomorrow, @duncanhames.bsky.social will join a great panel to discuss how to restore trust in UK politics.
Details โคต๏ธ
๐บ "๐๐ช๐ฉ๐๐ฃ'๐จ ๐๐ง๐ค๐ฃ๐๐๐จ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ค๐ฎ๐ง๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐๐ง ๐ข๐ช๐ก๐ฉ๐๐ข๐๐ก๐ก๐๐ค๐ฃ ๐ฅ๐ค๐ช๐ฃ๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐๐ฉ๐จ ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ก๐๐ ๐๐ฎ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ก๐๐ ๐๐จ ๐ค๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฝ๐๐."
Steff Aquarone MP from the @appgonacrt.bsky.social on the British Overseas Territories enabling the flow of dirty money.
Ending offshore secrecy is critical to stopping Russian influence.
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๐จ ๐ ๐ช๐ถ๐ป ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐น๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ด๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ ๐จ
Four years after the independence of the Electoral Commission was curtailed, the Government has listened & will end Ministers' ability to influence our elections watchdog.
๐ This is a significant & welcome step in protecting our elections from interference.
๐ฅ Does your MP support stopping mega donations from the super rich?
๐ท With the Elections Bill having second reading today, there are already numerous MPs that want to stop big money corrupting our politics.
๐ Share this video if you want your MP to end big money corrupting our politics.
๐
"In 2015, only 1 per cent of private donations came from companies and individuals giving ยฃ1 million or more; by 2024, this had risen to ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฎ ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฟ๐ฑ."
New research from @rosewhiff.bsky.social & @stevejgoodrich.bsky.social on the super rich's growing influence on UK politics.
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*Love* this video from @transparencyuk.bsky.social - what a compelling case for taking big money out of politics.
And who is that devilishly handsome Irish chap talking such sense in Parliament half way through ๐คฃ
๐BLOG
"If the UK is serious about ensuring its sanctions regime has teeth, it cannot afford to leave these transparency gaps unaddressed."
@margotmollat.bsky.social on how British Overseas Territories' financial secrecy undermines the UK's efforts to tackle Russian influence.
More below โคต๏ธ
Do you think there should be a limit on how much money anyone can hand over to their favoured politicians?
๐ฅ BIG MONEY IS CORRUPTING OUR POLITICS ๐ฅ
UK politics has a big money problem ๐ท
The super-rich use money to buy honours, influence and access to power. It erodes trust in our politics and undermines our democracy.
The UK needs a cap on donations to end big money in our politics.
More below โคต๏ธ
This is the @channel4news.bsky.social investigation just mentioned in the debate this afternoon in the House of Commons on the appointment of the then Prince Andrew as Special Representative for Trade and Investment:
๐บ "It takes more than warm words to actually rebuild trust. It takes definitive action."
Our Chief Executive Daniel Bruce joined Ian Collins and Clark Vasey on Talk TV to discuss the arrest of Peter Mandelson and how we rebuild trust in politics.
๐ฃ๏ธ"If the UK is serious about confronting Russian kleptocracy, it must finish the job at home."
Mia Paukovic, Coalition Manager at @ukanticorruptioncoalition.org, on the critical gaps that allow dirty money from Russia to infiltrate the UK.
Full statement below โคต๏ธ
The Representation of the People Bill aims to protect UK democracy, but does it tackle big money in politics? ๐ท
Steve Goodrich of @transparencyuk.bsky.social says reform must go further: cap donations, boost transparency... ๐
Read the latest ๐
www.radixbigtent.org.uk/necessary-bu... #ElectionsBill
The full report from @autonomy-institute.bsky.social on the dramatic rise of corporate donations going to Labour here:
autonomy.work/portfolio/la...
๐ฃ๏ธ"Sky-high spending limits and weak donation rules have created a dash for cash that is spiralling out of control".
Steve Goodrich in Novara on big money in our politics.
It follows a great report from The Autonomy Institute on the rise in corp. donations in politics. Link in comments.
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๐ฃ๏ธ "Any proven abuse of a senior public role for private ends, financial or otherwise, is corruption that erodes public trust in our institutions."
Read our full statement on the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
www.transparency.org.uk/news/transpa...
A sign advertising FOI Fest 2026, and including a link to the FOI Network, https://www.mysociety.org/transparency/foi-network/
It's here!
Thrilled that the first public act of State of the Future is working with @mysociety.org @campaignfoi.bsky.social @transparencyuk.bsky.social and Democracy for Sale to celebrate 21 years of Freedom of Information #FOIFest
...and kickstart an FOI Network www.mysociety.org/transparency...
"It is not simply about who gains access, but how the system allows well-resourced actors to exert disproportionate influence over policy decisions."
A powerful intervention from @patmillsuk.bsky.social on why we need to stop the super-rich from buying access to power.
Read the full piece โคต๏ธ
๐ฅ "It's not part of the job of a trade envoy to be setting up meetings for American financiers".
@duncanhames.bsky.social speaking with @channel4news.bsky.social last week on why an investigation is needed into the Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor/Epstein revelations.
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As police investigate the Peter Mandelson revelations, there are serious doubts about whether the UK's lobbying transparency regime would uncover such wrongdoing today.
More from @rosewhiff.bsky.social on what reforms are needed to ensure we know who influences government, and why.
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โ[It] doesnโt seem as though itโs any form of protection against oligarchs wanting to influence British politicsโ.
Chief Exec. of the Electoral Commission, Vijay Rangarajan, on why the proposed electoral law reforms won't protect UK democracy from overseas.
More from @catneilan.bsky.social โคต๏ธ
Want to do something about corruption in politics, while making it harder for corrupt criminals to launder their stolen wealth? I have great news:
๐ข We're hiring! ๐
@transparencyuk.bsky.social is looking for a new Advocacy Officer to join our team. Apply now www.transparency.org.uk/who-we-are/w...
๐บ"What's happened here warrants investigation, and its important we get to the bottom of that".
@duncanhames.bsky.social spoke with Channel 4 News on revelations that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor tried to organise a meeting with Muammar Gaddafi for Jeffrey Epstein, at Epstein's request.
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๐ฆ MONEY TALKS ๐ฆ
Yesterday, the Government introduced a bill aiming to stop foreign money influencing British elections.
The problem, though, isn't where the super-rich are from, but that money - from here and abroad - can buy access to power and influence.
More from @duncanhames.bsky.social โคต๏ธ
๐ฆ MONEY TALKS ๐ฆ
Yesterday, the Government introduced a bill aiming to stop foreign money influencing British elections.
The problem, though, isn't where the super-rich are from, but that money - from here and abroad - can buy access to power and influence.
More from @duncanhames.bsky.social โคต๏ธ
๐ BLOG
The new law to safeguard our democracy does little to address a longstanding and ever-present threat.
As the new elections bill is published, @stevejgoodrich.bsky.social argues that more must be done to tackle the influence of money in politics.
www.transparency.org.uk/news/governm...
๐ฃ๏ธ"The problem isnโt just about where the money comes from, but how much can be given and what may be expected in return.โ
Rose Zussman spoke with Max Kendix at The Times on how the Government's new proposed laws won't stop a small group of mega-rich UK donors influencing our politics.
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