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Reposted by Sue Hawley

Transparency International UK @transparencyuk.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

🗣"If you're in power as a government, you want to stay in power." @suehawley.bsky.social Politicians have a conflict of interest. What they decide on donations can impact their own careers. But other countries like Aus & Canada have broken the money trap. It's time the UK did the same. More ⤵️

youtube.com

Why are UK politicians in a money trap?

YouTube video by Transparency International UK

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Reposted by Sue Hawley

Oliver Bullough @oliverbullough.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

I am not a fan of our AML system but, if someone knows you well enough to know you have a big transaction coming in, and is suspicious enough about it to suspect money laundering, then the bank is probably* right to suspend the account pending enquiries. *100 percent certainly

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Sue Hawley @suehawley.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

Great spot by @josiahmortimer.bsky.social - this is a really big and welcome step by the government but will it be enough? The next government could raise them again so the government needs to lock in the new elections bill that they can ONLY be raised following a recommendation from the Commission

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Reposted by Sue Hawley

Josiah Mortimer @josiahmortimer.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

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 …

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Sue Hawley @suehawley.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

Fascinating report commissioned by the Electoral Commission using citizen deliberation on political finance. Key findings 1️⃣ the public want donation caps 2️⃣ they want public funding 3️⃣ they want more enforcement and tougher penalties media.nesta.org.uk/documents/Po...

media.nesta.org.uk

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Reposted by Sue Hawley

UCL Constitution Unit @conunitucl.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

What next for standards in public life? Join Baroness (Ruth) Anderson, @suehawley.bsky.social and @markpackuk.bsky.social and Doug Chalmers to discuss what has and needs to be done to strengthen standards at our free, online conference next Thursday. Sign up 👉 www.ucl.ac.uk/social-histo....

The Constitution Unit Conference 2026. What next for standards in public life? 25 June 2026, 10:00am–11:00am. Baroness (Ruth) Anderson of Stoke on Trent (Parliamentary Secretary in the Cabinet Office and Labour peer. Dr Susan Hawley (Executive Director of Spotlight on Corruption). Lord (Mark) Pack (Liberal Democrat House of Lords spokesperson for the Cabinet Office). Doug Chalmers (Chair of the Ethics and Integrity Commission). Chair: Lisa James (Senior Research Fellow at the Constitution Unit).

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Sue Hawley @suehawley.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

Important breaking story about former Nigerian oil minister being acquitted by a jury of all bribery charges.

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Sue Hawley @suehawley.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

Very stern letter from the Independent Advisor on Ministerial Standards to Ann Marie Trevelyan about breaching the revolving door rules at Babcock. Unfortunately, the Sunak government failed to introduce proposed financial sanctions so a stern letter is all she will get: www.gov.uk/government/p...

gov.uk

Correspondence: Anne Marie-Trevelyan, Strategic Advisor, Babcock International Group Plc

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Sue Hawley @suehawley.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

As the government looks to crack down on immigration, it is actively exploring how to attract the very rich through a new "golden visa" programme. These programmes bring little economic benefit to the UK and are a magnet for dirty money. @appgonacrt.bsky.social @philbrickellmp.bsky.social

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Reposted by Sue Hawley

Spotlight on Corruption @spotlightcorruption.org · 20/05/2026

1. 💪🏻 V welcome to see Sir Laurie Magnus – Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards – flex his muscles in policing the revolving door yesterday with his Grant Shapps letter – but the rules he has to police are hopelessly inadequate & need a major overhaul 🧵 www.standard.co.uk/news/politic...

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Spotlight on Corruption @spotlightcorruption.org · 20/05/2026

1) 💥 NEW: It's very encouraging to hear the Justice Secretary David Lammy recommit to tackling SLAPPs – abusive legal tactics used by the rich and powerful to silence critics – but much more urgency is needed in delivering on this promise. 🧵

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Sue Hawley @suehawley.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

Independent Advisor on Ministerial Standards has issued a stinging rebuke to Grant Shapps about breaching the revolving door rules in his employment with Cambridge Aerospace. But under the old rules the only sanction is a stinging rebuke ... www.gov.uk/government/p...

gov.uk

Correspondence: Grant Shapps, Chair, Cambridge Aerospace

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Reposted by Sue Hawley

UCL Constitution Unit @conunitucl.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

What next for standards in public life? Join Cabinet Office minister Baroness (Ruth) Anderson and @suehawley.bsky.social to discuss if the government has taken sufficient steps to strengthen standards in public life, and what more remains to be done. Sign up 👉 www.ucl.ac.uk/social-histo....

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Sue Hawley @suehawley.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

Well one thing is for sure - judge only trials without a very strong cadre of good judges is going to be hard to pull off … great piece by Rachel Sylvester on the crisis at the top of the judiciary and growing pressures they face. observer.co.uk/news/nationa...

observer.co.uk

The vacuum at the very top of the judiciary | The Observer

The government plans to increase the importance of judges in the criminal justice system by reducing the number of jury trials, but a very key position is being left empty

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Reposted by Sue Hawley

Spotlight on Corruption @spotlightcorruption.org · 26/03/2026

📻 Our director @suehawley.bsky.social spoke to LBC News yesterday to welcome the Rycroft Review and: 💷 the UK's first ever cap on political donations 🚫 the immediate ban on crypto donations But she urged the government to waste no time in implementing Rycroft's wider recommendations ⏰ ⬇️

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Reposted by Sue Hawley

Spotlight on Corruption @spotlightcorruption.org · 20/03/2026

The new ‘Know Your Donor’ regime is very welcome and something that we have long been calling for, but if it is to be effective it needs to be tightened and safeguarded from being overridden by ministerial intervention.

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Spotlight on Corruption @spotlightcorruption.org · 20/03/2026

💰 🗓️ Campaign spending limits for political parties should apply all year to avoid parties gaming the system and risks of foreign interference. Our director, @suehawley.bsky.social gave evidence to MPs on why transparency and fairness matter in an age of permanent political campaigning. 🧵 ⬇️

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Sue Hawley @suehawley.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

Following a third investigation by the standards commissioner in the Lords, Labour peer who introduced a firm in which he had a financial interest to the #COVID #PPE lane, has finally fallen on his sword. Great work by David Conn and @cbffjuk.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/world/2026/m...

theguardian.com

Tory peer to leave House of Lords after investigation finds he breached standards over Covid PPE deals

Lord Chadlington introduced government to supplier in which he had financial interest in 2020

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Reposted by Sue Hawley

Alex Beatty @alexbeatty.bsky.social · 19/02/2026

Our submission to the Bill Committee goes into a lot more detail - click on the link at the bottom for the full document. And I'm sure @suehawley.bsky.social can run you through it if you're interested in following up?

spotlightcorruption.org

Submission to the Public Office (Accountability) Bill committee, November 2025 - Spotlight on Corruption

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Reposted by Sue Hawley

Spotlight on Corruption @spotlightcorruption.org · 02/03/2026

🎉 Really positive news coming from parliament that the government will scrap the Strategy and Policy Statement for the @electoralcommission.org.uk. ⚠️ We previously warned about the risks of keeping the statement in place in our report, Democracy in Danger 🧵 ⬇️

spotlightcorruption.org

Democracy in danger: why the government must restore the Electoral Commission’s full independence - Spotlight on Corruption

A fully independent Electoral Commission is critical to ensuring the integrity of UK elections, and maintaining public confidence that elections are run fairly.

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Reposted by Sue Hawley

Spotlight on Corruption @spotlightcorruption.org · 09/02/2026

It is also a long way from the radical overhaul that former PM Gordon Brown called for at the weekend, and which is desperately needed. A ‘tinkering’ mindset on ethics reform is not enough to restore public trust. Here’s our executive director @suehawley.bsky.social’s take from earlier today 👇

spotlightcorruption.org

No more tinkering – root and branch reform of how politicians are held to account is now essential - Spotlight on Corruption

There is rightly huge public demand that Mandelson and those who saw fit to appoint him face meaningful accountability.

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Reposted by Sue Hawley

Tim Durrant @timdurrant.bsky.social · 09/02/2026

Darren Jones has set out various things that the government is "considering" to bolster how ethics are upheld, including: - considering changing the process for declaration of financial interests - looking closely at how lobbying is managed - revisiting the guidance on the use of informal comms...

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Reposted by Sue Hawley

Spotlight on Corruption @spotlightcorruption.org · 09/02/2026

💥 With public opinion of politicians at rock bottom, the government must urgently commit to root-and-branch reform of the way standards in public life are regulated or risk the future of the UK’s democracy, says @suehawley.bsky.social.

spotlightcorruption.org

No more tinkering – root and branch reform of how politicians are held to account is now essential - Spotlight on Corruption

There is rightly huge public demand that Mandelson and those who saw fit to appoint him face meaningful accountability.

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Sue Hawley @suehawley.bsky.social · 09/02/2026

With an announcement due on beefing up ethics at 4pm ish (if political events don’t overtake it) here’s our take on where the government has gone wrong on restoring public trust so far and what needs to happen now @appgonacrt.bsky.social @joepowell.bsky.social @philbrickellmp.bsky.social

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Reposted by Sue Hawley

Josiah Mortimer @josiahmortimer.bsky.social · 06/02/2026

On Monday (9 Feb) MPs will debate a petition on Russian influence on UK politics and democracy. Dan Jarvis MP, Minister of State, is expected to respond on behalf of the Government.

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Reposted by Sue Hawley

Spotlight on Corruption @spotlightcorruption.org · 02/02/2026

💰Today the Solicitors Regulation Authority has been told it’s on the hook for more than half a million pounds in legal costs to Claire Gill, after the regulator’s #SLAPPs case failed against the Carter-Ruck partner who acted for the $4 billion crypto-scam OneCoin.

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Reposted by Sue Hawley

Patriotic Millionaires UK @patmillsuk.bsky.social · 21/01/2026

When even millionaires, like us, recognise that extreme wealth has cost everyone else everything else, there can be no doubt that society is dangerously teetering off the edge of a precipice. We want our democracies back. We want our communities back. We want our future back.

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Global Civil Society Coalition for the UNCAC @uncaccoalition.bsky.social · 19/12/2025

🎉 🥳 #UNCAC #CoSP11 adopted resolution on political finance transparency, making it the first-ever set of principles agreed at UN-level to promote accountability in funding of political parties and campaigns. Congrats, Norway, Albania, Ghana, Mongolia @anticorruption.bsky.social @ifes.bsky.social!

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Reposted by Sue Hawley

Spotlight on Corruption @spotlightcorruption.org · 12/12/2025

🚨BREAKING: The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal dismisses the case against Carter-Ruck's Claire Gill, in a shock decision that could give the green light for lawyers to continue to push the boundaries of what constitutes abusive litigation. #SLAPPs

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Peter Geoghegan @petergeoghegan.bsky.social · 03/12/2025

@duncanhames.bsky.social of Transparency International has called for an investigation into this "cash for access operation" As @suehawley.bsky.social says “It should not have to take undercover reporting to lift the lid on murky secretive access.”

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Peter Geoghegan @petergeoghegan.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

As @suehawley.bsky.social says: “These kinds of rampant conflicts of interests in the House of Lords undermine public confidence." @rosewhiff.bsky.social is right - “Shadow ministers [are] positioned to influence policy while benefiting financially from the very sectors they scrutinise.”

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Reposted by Sue Hawley

UK Anti-Corruption Coalition @ukanticorruptioncoalition.org · 03/11/2025

🚨 1 in 3 law firms are not compliant with anti-money laundering rules. 📈 But, the government has recently taken steps to address this issue. 💷 If implemented correctly, this move could be transformational for the UK's dirty money problem. Learn more: ukanticorruptioncoalition.org/work/release...

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Sue Hawley @suehawley.bsky.social · 15/10/2025

Go get your @privateeyenews.bsky.social folks and buckle up for another incredible report by @rbrooks45.bsky.social on the Teeside development - a tale of insane #cronyism and #profiteering at taxpayer expense. @csc-barrington.bsky.social @ethicsandintegrity.bsky.social

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Jonathan Jones @sirjjkc.bsky.social · 13/10/2025

The government’s progress on ethical standards remains underwhelming. Any tightening is to be welcomed, but the idea that ministers “are expected”to repay severance if they break the rules simply underlines the absence of an enforceable legal duty

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Sue Hawley @suehawley.bsky.social · 13/10/2025

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...

theguardian.com

Post-ministerial jobs watchdog closes as part of UK government ethics shake-up

Exclusive: Acoba’s functions split between two regulators and new Ethics and Integrity Commission to oversee others

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Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · 11/10/2025

Exc: The Electoral Commission has been given early notice of the UK's first ever crypto donation The has been "made, but not declared", to a party understood to be Reform Reform spox said: "All donations above the reporting limit will be disclosed in the usual way" share.google/VvtjBjEjEjRa...

share.google

Calls for transparency on political funding after first c...

Electoral Commission notified of financial contribution, which is rumoured to have been handed to Reform UK

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Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · 11/10/2025

The donation is seen as a potential "watershed moment" in political funding. @suehawley.bsky.social of @spotlightcorruption.org warned that neither parties nor the EC have the expertise to prevent anonymous donations, leaving the UK "extremely vulnerable" to hostile states and organised crime

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Sue Hawley @suehawley.bsky.social · 07/10/2025

These look like very questionable tactics from Carter Ruck solicitor to discredit police officer investigating a client for major fraud. Real questions as to why SRA is not investigating them as breach of lawyers code of conduct www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...

thebureauinvestigates.com

City lawyers tried to ‘silence’ police fraud investigator

Carter-Ruck launched campaign against London detective on behalf of $4bn crypto scam, according to court documents

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UK Anti-Corruption Coalition @ukanticorruptioncoalition.org · 28/09/2025

🚨 BREAKING: UKACC has arrived at the Labour Party conference, and the new chair of the @appgonacrt.bsky.social, @philbrickellmp.bsky.social is ready to get to work. Come and find us at our events across Liverpool: ukanticorruptioncoalition.org/labour

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Sue Hawley @suehawley.bsky.social · 26/09/2025

This is big and a really good piece of policing and prosecutorial work - bribes to help foreign states get a more favourable hearing in parliaments and with the public should never have a place in the UK or Europe.

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Daniel Bruce @danieljbruce.bsky.social · 24/09/2025

'Probably the biggest misspending scandal in the UK of all time' - ITV's rigorous & powerful film 'The Covid Contracts, Follow the Money' is a must-watch. Pleased to contribute to this film for @transparencyuk.bsky.social alongside @suehawley.bsky.social & many others. www.itv.com/watch/the-co...

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Reposted by Sue Hawley

Spotlight on Corruption @spotlightcorruption.org · 24/09/2025

Explosive insights about Carter-Ruck's tactics to shut down scrutiny of OneCoin's $3 billion crypto fraud after our work with @danneidle.bsky.social @tbij.bsky.social @fpcthinktank.bsky.social including attempts to get an FCA warning notice taken down: www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...

thebureauinvestigates.com

‘Send a clear message’: Carter-Ruck’s dirty tactics on behalf of $4bn…

Stunning new documents lay bare law firm’s attempts to silence whistleblowers and cast doubt on police probe

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Sue Hawley @suehawley.bsky.social · 17/09/2025

Very much looking forward to this debate in Brighton and hoping the audience will come up with lots of ideas for how to solve the UK's political integrity challenges.

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Sue Hawley @suehawley.bsky.social · 17/09/2025

This is actually really big and very welcome. Unannounced amidst yesterday’s Hillsborough Law are new provisions to upgrade the UK’s archaic misconduct in public office offence. Big win for @spotlightcorruption.org. Here’s our analysis @bricksilk.bsky.social @csc-barrington.bsky.social

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Sue Hawley @suehawley.bsky.social · 16/09/2025

The revolving door in the defence sector has always been exceptionally high risk and now @lucasamin.bsky.social has hunted down the latest figures on the scale of it. The government’s proposed new approach to policing the revolving door so far raises more questions than answers.

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