KB – Episode 145🎙️
@csc-barrington.bsky.social speaks with @marianizzero.bsky.social about research reframing kleptocracy as a transnational criminal enterprise, and the implications for UK asset recovery and national security.
🎧 Spotify bit.ly/SpotifyKBep145
🎧 SoundCloud bit.ly/SoundCloudKB...
Prof @csc-barrington.bsky.social examines the Mandelson–Epstein affair through the lens of corruption analysis.
Using CSC’s definition- the abuse of entrusted power for private gain which harms the public interest- the blog asks whether the term “corruption” is analytically appropriate in this case
Why is the UK now just scraping into the top twenty of Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index, when a decade ago it was comfortably in the top ten?
Political integrity - and perceptions of corruption - may be part of the answer.
🧵⬇️
❓ “Is Peter Mandelson corrupt (assuming the allegations against him are true)?”
In a new blog, @csc-barrington.bsky.social examines this question using corruption analysis rather than focusing solely on criminal liability.
🔗 Read now: bit.ly/3M9SFz6
Is Peter Mandelson corrupt (assuming the allegations against him are true)? Long story short: yes. Here’s why: blogs.sussex.ac.uk/centre-for-t...
#Corruption #PoliticalIntegrity #Governance #PublicTrust #UKPolitics #PeterMandelson #EpsteinFiles
🎙️ New KickBack podcast episode (Ep. 143)
@csc-barrington.bsky.social speaks with @racheldavies.bsky.social (@anticorruption.bsky.social) and Tom Shipley (CSC) to assess what the government’s UK Anti-Corruption Strategy 2025 prioritises, where it marks progress, and where gaps remain.
🚨 The January 2026 edition of the GI ACE Newsletter is out now!
Inside you’ll find information about our latest publications, events, blogs, podcasts, and more.
🔗 Read this month’s newsletter: bit.ly/3LXvojB
🔗 Subscribe to receive future editions via email: bit.ly/49Xj62F
My interview with @tvpworld.bsky.social on Poland’s approach to Donald Trump’s proposed Board of Peace:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSuz...
📣 Blog: ‘Evaluating the evidence base for the UK’s 2025 Anti‑Corruption Strategy’
@csc-barrington.bsky.social argues although the Strategy is the most evidence‑based yet, key data gaps remain and its impact hinges on the implementation of commitments to improve research, evaluation and measurement.
A report of my UK Polish Embassy book launch in ‘Transitions’ magazine:
tol.org/client/artic...
Our first Kickback episode of 2026 🎙️
@lizdavidbarrett.bsky.social speaks with Anna Persson on why anticorruption reforms fail, systemic corruption as collective action, and why transparency alone isn’t enough.
🎧 bit.ly/SpotifyKB142
🎧 bit.ly/SoundCloudKB...
🎧 bit.ly/AppleKB142
If he was an MP, his voters could now be demanding a by-election under the Recall Act, but as Tony Blair gave him a life peerage, he could be back in the House of Lords next year. More here from Rob Evans and @direthoughts.com:
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Excellent work from @direthoughts.com and team, exposing serious misconduct resulting in a lengthy suspension for these two peers
Professional enablers often work behind the scenes—but their influence can drive corruption and state capture. Join our GI ACE roundtable with @lizdavidbarrett.bsky.social, @devipillay.co.za, Alex Cooley, @jheathershaw.bsky.social, Corentin Cohen and @tenaprelec.bsky.social
🔗 bit.ly/GIACERoundtable
To negotiate a trade deal with the President of the United States, the Swiss government arrived with a "special Rolex desktop clock" and "a 1-kilogram personalized gold bar"
www.axios.com/2025/11/14/t...
Today’s #GIACEseminar was a lively dive into how illicit finance is reshaping tourism and hospitality.
Thank you to Jean-Patrick Villeneuve, @ofabianobomfim.bsky.social, Dieter Zinnbauer, @lizdavidbarrett.bsky.social and all the participants who joined!
Learn more: bit.ly/corruptionin...
Crises like pandemics, cholera outbreaks & climate disasters don’t just strain health systems — they amplify corruption risks.
New #GIACE blog by Claudia Baez Camargo & @dinabalabanova.bsky.social explores how overlapping emergencies in Malawi opened space for corruption.
🔗 bit.ly/BaselGIACEBlog
🚨The Nov GI ACE Newsletter is out!
From real estate money laundering to sanctions evasion & a new blog on anti-money-laundering in the Global South — explore the latest from the GI ACE network.
🔗Read: bit.ly/GIACENewsletter_7
🔗SUB: bit.ly/NewsletterSUB
📢 CSC Seminar: From London to “Dubai-Kong” (1980–2024)
🗓 Mon 27 Oct, 12:00–13:00 UK | Online
How US-sanctioned networks shifted from Western hubs to a Dubai–Hong Kong axis.
Speaker: Daniel Haberly | Discussant: Tom Keatinge | Chair:
@csc-barrington.bsky.social
Register Here: bit.ly/CSC2webinar
As it stands, the government has taken a piecemeal approach to standards reform
We need to see much more from Labour if it is to take meaningful steps to restore public trust in the political system, writes Transparency International UK's @danieljbruce.bsky.social
🚨 Baroness Mone, the directors, and everyone involved in PPE Medpro have missed the deadline to repay the £122 million owed for supplying faulty PPE. Now the interest is mounting.
Every day they delay, the public pays.
My message is clear: pay back what you owe.
In opposition, Labour was quick to condemn the previous government’s ethical failures and pledge to clean up politics. It now has the chance to prove its commitment is more than campaign rhetoric.
@danieljbruce.bsky.social writes in @politicshome.bsky.social.
www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...
Strong move from the new Foreign Secretary.
But it is shocking that fraudsters were able to hide behind shell companies in our own offshore territories, and then invest their ill-gotten gains in UK property.
It is time to drive dirty money out of our economy for good.
New on the CSC blog: the 4th post in our Tasmania series by @robynlewis.bsky.social & Michael Johnston examines “quiet capture” and outlines reforms - independent ACA, stronger transparency/lobbying oversight, public-service capacity, meaningful participation. Read: bit.ly/Tasmania4
How big an impact will “minor reorganisation “ of UK ethics regulation bodies and the creation of advisory ethics commission with no enforcement powers have? Key question from @peterwalker99.bsky.social
Our evidence to Parliament warns real risk of not much.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
This could be a major decision in turning the tide on Putin and making sure he pays for his unlawful war of aggression.
I hope Germany, France & the UK can now repurpose frozen Russian state assets as soon as possible to keep Kyiv in the fight.
Excellent from @richardmoorhead.bsky.social on aggressive defamation law firm's interactions with police, SRA and others when defending a client on FBI's most wanted list. If professional ethics fail, tough regulation is the only alternative. lawyerwatch.wordpress.com/2025/10/08/s...
How do consulting giants enable state capture?
@lizdavidbarrett.bsky.social talks to @devipillay.co.za on McKinsey’s role in South Africa, drawing on the Zondo Commission.
🔗Listen: bit.ly/KBspotify138
🔗Paper: lnkd.in/eczS5NAM
#StateCapture #SouthAfrica #AntiCorruption
“A pandemic was always going to be expensive. But we didn’t need to turn it into the profiteers charter that we did.”
📺 A new ITV documentary goes behind the scenes to reveal how government PPE contracts lined the pockets of businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Watch on @itvx.com now.
#Statecapture in South Africa wasn’t just politicians & the Guptas. Firms like McKinsey, Regiments & Trillian at Transnet & Eskom enabled inflated contracts & mismanagement.
#GIACE research by @devipillay.co.za shows how unchecked outsourcing weakens state capacity.
Read: bit.ly/consultants-...
