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Tim Picton

@timpicton.bsky.social
227 followers 138 following 96 posts

Anti-corruption advocacy for @spotlightcorruption.org. Views own or sometimes heavily plagiarised.

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Reposted by Tim Picton
Rob Davies @byrobdavies.bsky.social · 17h
Huge blunder by UK bookmakers that have railed against the dangers of the black market, as it emerges that a company part-owned by Ladbrokes, Entain and Betfred boss Fred Done has a deal with Santeda, singled out as perhaps the biggest black market operator targeting UK customers.
theguardian.com
UK bookmakers that warned over illicit market had deal with offshore casinos
Content provider part-owned by Ladbrokes, William Hill and Betfred owner signed deal with Santeda network, Casino Secrets leak reveals
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Tim Picton @timpicton.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
I know I am a sado, but I have waiting for this leak for almost two years! One q to emerge from the files so far is, how did a certain Cottrell-linked accountant go bankrupt and only a few years later manage to sell a £3.7m property to fund an offshore crypto casino? Answers on a postcard etc…
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Reposted by Tim Picton
Peter Geoghegan @petergeoghegan.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
🔴 BREAKING: BP, Uber, Amazon and more paying Tony Blair's think tank $25,000 for “networking” opportunities with politicians and policy makers at party conferences Experts say "looks and smells like cash for access" Full story on Democracy for Sale democracyforsale.substack.com/p/breaking-t...
democracyforsale.substack.com
BREAKING: Tony Blair Institute’s $25,000 corporate network “smells like cash for access”
Exclusive documents show Tony Blair's think tank offers corporate members such as BP and Uber "networking" at party conferences and "a stronger voice" in policy debates.
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Reposted by Tim Picton
Financial Times @financialtimes.com · 25/09/2026
US seizes bank accounts of payments group working for Tether’s bank ft.trib.al/psutnEs
ft.trib.al
US seizes bank accounts of payments group working for Tether’s bank
Prosecutors allege Capstone illegally moved hundreds of millions of dollars for the crypto companies at the direction of a Caribbean bank
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Spotlight on Corruption @spotlightcorruption.org · 22/09/2026
1. Speaking at an @instituteforgovernment.org.uk event last week, Spotlight's @kamilakingstone.bsky.social explained why the govt needs to act to stop a small number of wealthy individuals having disproportionate influence over our politics.
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Spotlight on Corruption @spotlightcorruption.org · 21/09/2026
1. The High Court has ruled against the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) following a major challenge by Carter-Ruck and Mohamed Amersi to the regulator's investigative powers. 🧵
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Tim Picton @timpicton.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Interesting details in here about Mehrtash A’zami’s offshore accounting firm, Maxim, and Tether Bet. To add to the coincidences, Cottrell landed his first job at Maxim, only a decade later for A’zami to set up its Montenegrin arm at the offices of Cottrell’s lawyer. It hasn’t filed any accounts.
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Reposted by Tim Picton
Peter Geoghegan @petergeoghegan.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
This is completely on Andy Burnham Last week Labour could have stopped this. Now we have a single person giving more money than the entire general election spending limit for a political party www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/202...
telegraph.co.uk
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Tim Picton @timpicton.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Thanks to @estwebber.bsky.social for giving me a quote in this scoop! I would add that the regulated period for political parties' spending should apply all year round, not just in the lead up to elections - so they are obliged to disclose polling they've paid for. www.politico.eu/article/nige...
politico.eu
Farage donor scandal turns spotlight on UK polling industry
Former employees and clients of JL Partners say there have been other instances of funders not being declared.
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Reposted by Tim Picton
Spotlight on Corruption @spotlightcorruption.org · 10/09/2026
1. Welcome news today: in response to a question from @joepowell.bsky.social, Cabinet Office minister @markfergusonmp.bsky.social recognised that our threadbare & outdated lobbying transparency regime “isn’t good enough” and reveals that the government is looking at legislative options for reform. 🧵
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Spotlight on Corruption @spotlightcorruption.org · 09/09/2026
The Met Police has launched an inquiry into allegations that Reform UK broke electoral law. We welcome the investigation. But the govt must also use its elections bill to strengthen penalties for electoral finance offences. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
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Reposted by Tim Picton
Byline Times @bylinetimes.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
“Someone worrying about their energy bill cannot donate £1 million, £4 million or £10 million to a political party. The tiny number of people who can inhabit a very different economic world.” ✍️ Kyle Taylor bylinetimes.com/2026/09/08/a...
bylinetimes.com
'A Cap on Donations Is Not Anti-Union — It Is Anti-Oligarchy'
New Electoral Commission figures show £14.2 million flowed into party coffers in three months, one day after ministers finally admitted mega-donations are a problem
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HOPE not hate @hopenothate.org.uk · 05/09/2026
This morning at 7:30am, a group of men dressed in black and their faces covered, gathered in Dover. The men, members of the anti-migrant vigilante group Patriot Platform, proceeded to block the port of Dover and several roads nearby. Our briefing: hopenothate.org.uk/2026/09/05/p...
hopenothate.org.uk
Patriot Platform’s masked members march on Dover – HOPE not hate
At approximately 7:30 this morning, hundreds of black-clad members of Patriot Platform, a far-right vigilante unit, blockaded roads in Dover. They marched north east off...
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Spotlight on Corruption @spotlightcorruption.org · 04/09/2026
The enforcement regime of political donations rules has become a hot topic 🔥 The reality is, it is barely fit for purpose. Our research has shown that there is no credible deterrent against bad actors seeking to bend or break the rules 🧵 www.spotlightcorruption.org/report/credi...
spotlightcorruption.org
Credible Deterrence: beefing up enforcement of the UK’s political finance rules - Spotlight on Corruption
In February 2026, the Director-General of the NCA told a Parliamentary inquiry: “there is no point legislating for something unless you are going to enforce
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Spotlight on Corruption @spotlightcorruption.org · 02/09/2026
1. 💬 Last night’s parliamentary debate on #SLAPPs showed strong cross-party support & growing urgency for reforms to end legal bullying. As Minister @sarahsackman.bsky.social recognised, we need better legislative safeguards & regulatory action to ensure accountability for abusive legal tactics.
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Spotlight on Corruption @spotlightcorruption.org · 02/09/2026
1) 🎉 Great to see the government commit to review the loopholes in its crypto donations ban in response to a very important intervention from @liambyrnemp.bsky.social. Watch below 📺
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Tim Picton @timpicton.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Could we now see the equivalent of a $TRUMP memecoin in the UK? Ahead of the elections bill coming back to the Commons today, here is my final word on the government's very welcome ban on donations made in crypto, but the loopholes it could leave open... www.spotlightcorruption.org/a-bold-first...
spotlightcorruption.org
A bold first step: the government’s new ban on cryptocurrency donations
The government has proposed an amendment to the Representation of the People Bill, that would totally ban cryptocurrency political donations. But does the text of the amendment actually go far enough ...
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Reposted by Tim Picton
Phil Brickell MP @philbrickellmp.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
1/ 💷 Spending limits for political parties and candidates 💷 After Dame Anneliese Dodds MP and I tabled amendments to the Representation of the People Bill, I’m delighted to see the government has now written to the Electoral Commission, asking it to conduct a review and report back by July 2027.
Letter to the Electoral Commission from the government
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THE NERVE @thenerve.news · 30/08/2026
Palantir, Anduril, Cellebrite and others supply America’s deportation machine. They also hold UK contracts with the Home Office, MoD and police – offering surveillance capabilities that a Reform government would inherit. @mc00.bsky.social reports www.thenerve.news/p/ice-tech-c...
Ready for Farage? ICE’s tech enablers are already embedded in the British state. Image of an officer seen from behind, with the words “ICE POLICE” emblazoned on his back; the Union Jack is in the background
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Tom Burgis @tomburgis.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
Nigel Farage’s “intensely private” billionaire megadonor Christopher Harborne is known as a crypto baron. But he has another empire too. A military one. It extends from Thailand to Washington. What would that mean for a UK under Reform? @theguardian.com www.theguardian.com/business/202...
theguardian.com
Arms and the £5m man: Farage megadonor Christopher Harborne’s military empire
Reform UK denies donor and crypto-billionaire’s global interests in arms and military could present a conflict of interest over its defence spending policy
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Reposted by Tim Picton
sianushka.bsky.social @sianushka.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
In July, I went to Montenegro on the trail of Reform's money men. Since then, revelations about Farage and Cottrell have kept on coming. I rounded up all the shocking stories revealed by various papers since I came back from Tivat. Read it on @opendemocracy.net www.opendemocracy.net/can-reform-s...
opendemocracy.net
Can Reform survive its summer of scandal?
In July, openDemocracy went to Montenegro to report on Reform backer “Posh George”. Here’s what happened next
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Spotlight on Corruption @spotlightcorruption.org · 27/08/2026
💸 Another big settlement for the National Crime Agency as its Combatting Kleptocracy Cell secures £3.84m in suspected proceeds of sanctions evasion from bank accounts of ENEX Premium Trading Limited, an agricultural company registered in St Kitts & Nevis and owned by Azeri national Nadir Valiyev.
nca-newsroom.prgloo.com
Millions forfeited by company linked to suspected money laundering and sanctions evasion
National Crime Agency for Journalists and Press
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Peter Geoghegan @petergeoghegan.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
‘Those close to the process say capping donations is not a priority for Burnham and not a subject over which it would be worth triggering a fight with Labour’s biggest backers.’ Oligarchic politics is not Burnham’s friend. But he doesn’t seem to realise it www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
Burnham drops support for political funding cap aimed at curbing mega-donors
PM said he would set bar at £500k, but trade unions say funding reforms could undermine their ability to donate to Labour
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Tim Picton @timpicton.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
I do wonder just how much of this ministerial instruction was dictated by Scott Bessent...
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Tim Picton @timpicton.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Thanks to @josiahmortimer.bsky.social for giving me a quote in this story to question why on earth MPs are still allowed to leverage their public profile to help a company sell its products, with all the knotty conflicts of interests this creates... www.bylinesupplement.com/p/gold-firm-...
bylinesupplement.com
Gold Firm That Employs Nigel Farage Predicts Unrest and Violence Under a Reform Government
Exclusive: Promo material for Direct Bullion tells savers a Farage-led government could spark riots not seen since the poll tax – while paying the Reform leader hundreds of thousands of pounds
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Tim Picton @timpicton.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
Thanks to Cat Neilan for giving me a quote in this piece about how recent revelations should really focus minds on strengthening donations rules, just as a key and very relevant parliamentary bill is scheduled to come back to the Commons for scrutiny next week...
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Reposted by Tim Picton
The Guardian @theguardian.com · 21/08/2026
MPs ‘failing to learn lesson’ over freebies after accepting £400,000 of hospitality
theguardian.com
MPs ‘failing to learn lesson’ over freebies after accepting £400,000 of hospitality
Cost of tickets included £858 to a Harry Styles concert at Wembley; £1,839 to the Chelsea flower show and £3,432 of hospitality at the Brit Awards MPs have been accused of failing to learn their lesson over freebies after taking almost £400,000 of hospitality to concerts, sport matches and other events this year, with Louise Haigh, Lucy Powell and Wes Streeting among those accepting tickets. Despite the previous outcry in 2024 over Keir Starmer accepting football tickets and gifts of clothing, MPs appear to have been declaring hospitality since the start of the year on a greater scale than previously seen. Continue reading...
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opendemocracy.net @opendemocracy.net · 21/08/2026
Signum Global Advisories helps its clients land deals in war-ravaged regions like Ukraine, Syria, and the UK’s Labour party. www.opendemocracy.net/angela-rayner…
opendemocracy.net
Angela Rayner takes cash from war-profiteering advisory firm
Signum Global Advisories helps its clients land deals in war-ravaged regions like Ukraine, Syria, and the UK’s Labour party.
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Tim Picton @timpicton.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Pleased to give comments to the comprehensive piece on how there are worrying signs that the policy capture we have seen in the US with crypto is starting to take root in the UK...
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Transparency International UK @transparencyuk.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
🎬 EPISODE 1: HOW BIG MONEY IS CORRUPTING UK POLITICS 🗣️ "We're in an arms race, and we're in an arms race with no guardrails" - @suehawley.bsky.social Today we publish Episode 1 of Going, Going, Almost Gone: How the Super-Rich Are Buying UK Democracy with @petergeoghegan.bsky.social 1/3
youtube.com
How big money is corrupting UK politics | Going, Going, Almost Gone, Ep. 1
YouTube video by Transparency International UK
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opendemocracy.net @opendemocracy.net · 19/08/2026
Scandal-ridden think tank Labour Together and its donors swung behind Burnham after Makerfield by-election www.opendemocracy.net/labours-bigge…
opendemocracy.net
Labour’s biggest donors backed Burnham for PM, disclosures reveal
Scandal-ridden think tank Labour Together and its donors swung behind Burnham after Makerfield by-election
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The Guardian @theguardian.com · 18/08/2026
Ulez led to better lung size and function among London children, study finds
theguardian.com
Ulez led to better lung size and function among London children, study finds
Researchers find capacity stunted by pollution was restored after introduction of ultra-low emission zone Children’s lungs grew bigger and stronger after the most polluting vehicles were restricted from entering London, a study has found. Examinations of London schoolchildren before and after the introduction of the city’s ultra-low emission zone (Ulez) found a restoration of lung capacity that had been stunted by exposure to pollution. Continue reading...
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Spotlight on Corruption @spotlightcorruption.org · 18/08/2026
Andy Burnham has set out his priorities for Labour's next chapter. We think tackling dirty money should be one of them. Our latest piece sets out five practical steps the next Labour government should take to tackle corruption, illicit finance and the UK's role as a global dirty money hub.
spotlightcorruption.org
5 dirty money priorities for Burnham renewal
As Andy Burnham promises to deliver renewal and prosperity for ordinary people, tackling illicit wealth should be high up on the new Prime Minister's agenda. From hollowed-out high streets to inflated...
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Spotlight on Corruption @spotlightcorruption.org · 17/08/2026
The Labour govt has talked tough on dirty money. But two years in, under-resourced enforcement and deregulation risk leaving the UK more vulnerable to complex money laundering. Our new analysis looks at the record so far - and what the new Burnham government needs to do to turn words into action.
spotlightcorruption.org
The UK’s dirty money problem: will the new government walk the talk?
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine prompted a welcome crackdown on dirty money in the UK, including new sanctions, enforcement powers and stronger corporate transparency. There were hopes Labour would maint...
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The Guardian @theguardian.com · 17/08/2026
Thom Yorke, Romy and Brian Eno among 200 musicians urging PM to reject new North Sea drilling
theguardian.com
Thom Yorke, Romy and Brian Eno among 200 musicians urging PM to reject new North Sea drilling
Robert Smith, Olly Alexander and Paris Paloma also among signatories to letter saying exploitation of Rosebank and Jackdaw fields defies climate reality * Business live – latest updates More than 200 musicians including Massive Attack and Brian Eno have written to Andy Burnham urging him to reject plans for more oil and gas drilling in the North Sea. The letter, signed by 211 artists such as Bobby Gillespie, Olly Alexander and Paris Paloma, called on the prime minister to reject the Rosebank oilfield, warning that the project would fail to lower energy bills or provide energy security as most of the oil was likely to be exported. Continue reading...
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Peter Geoghegan @petergeoghegan.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
🔴 All Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs) are not allowed to accept secretariat services “funded directly or indirectly by a foreign government”. But we found that some cross-party groups are being funded by foreign states. New on Democracy for Sale: democracyforsale.substack.com/p/revealed-t...
democracyforsale.substack.com
Revealed: the foreign governments behind Westminster's cross-party groups
Foreign states aren't meant to fund the organisations running parliamentary groups. Our investigation found evidence that some do.
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Josiah Mortimer @josiahmortimer.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
🔴 Advance UK’s ‘Great British’ Successor Group Refuses to Rule Out Foreign Funding Exclusive: GB PAC, chaired by Ben Habib, says it “may receive lawful financial support” from abroad as it takes over Advance UK’s political operation bylinetimes.com/2026/08/14/a...
bylinetimes.com
Advance UK's 'Great British' Successor Group Refuses to Rule Out Foreign Funding
Exclusive: GB PAC, chaired by Ben Habib, says it "may receive lawful financial support" from abroad as it takes over Advance UK's political operation
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The Guardian @theguardian.com · 14/08/2026
Green groups urge Andy Burnham to break silence on climate crisis
theguardian.com
Green groups urge Andy Burnham to break silence on climate crisis
More than 50 organisations say PM urgently needs to show leadership and prepare British people for scale of change needed as UK struggles through another heatwave * UK politics live – latest updates The UK’s leading climate organisations have accused the prime minister, Andy Burnham, of “remaining silent” on the climate crisis as the country struggles to cope with its fifth heatwave of the year. As widespread droughts and devastating wildfires grip the country, green groups have written to Burnham urging him to “show leadership” and be honest with workers and the public that the climate crisis is driving the extreme conditions they are facing. Continue reading...
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ICIJ @icij.org · 07/08/2026
Tether, which mints the world’s most widely used crypto token, is likely one of the most valuable private companies on earth, with an estimated value of $200 billion. Who owns the powerful firm? The company has never publicly given a full picture. buff.ly/3O3ubjt
icij.org
Tether: a $200 billion crypto company you can’t look inside
Its USDT crypto token underpins a trillion-dollar market, but cryptocurrency giant Tether won’t answer questions about its ownership.
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Spotlight on Corruption @spotlightcorruption.org · 07/08/2026
The Electoral Commission has now published the annual accounts of the largest political parties. But something seems amiss when you look at how much each party spent on campaigning in 2025 🤔 ➡️ Reform: £5.1m 🌳 Conservatives: £2.4m 🔶 Liberal Democrats: £694k 🌹 Labour: £0
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Tim Picton @timpicton.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
👀Just leaving this here: "The proposed Abuse of the Pardon Prevention Act ... would require recipients of presidential pardons to file a financial disclosure report revealing gifts or other donations given to the president before or after receiving clemency." www.courthousenews.com/democrats-ey...
courthousenews.com
Democrats eye transparency measures for presidential pardons
A new bill from Senate Democrats would require certain pardon recipients to file financial disclosure reports and would clamp down on clemency orders for people involved in investigations of the presi...
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Spotlight on Corruption @spotlightcorruption.org · 06/08/2026
It’s disappointing to see that the Electoral Commission has imposed just 2 civil penalties in the past 12 months, totalling just £1,250, down from a high of 33 penalties in 2023-24, according to its latest annual report. www.electoralcommission.org.uk/sites/defaul...
electoralcommission.org.uk
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Josiah Mortimer @josiahmortimer.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
Labour membership fell to 264,754 in 2025, down 68,481 (−20.6%) from 2024's 333,235, according to the party's accounts out today. Labour still had hefty total income of £45 million, but donations were down 84% on 2024 - to roughly £6.5m (£39.4m in 2024). Membership income fell to £15.3 from £18.3m.
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Tim Picton @timpicton.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
This is a really helpful graphic, but what it doesn't mention is how some of the funds routed through Britain Means Business were offramped from crypto earlier on. This should be used as a case study to explore how to mitigate against individuals circumventing the crypto donations ban in future.
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Spotlight on Corruption @spotlightcorruption.org · 03/08/2026
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...
cityoflondon.police.uk
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).
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George Greenwood @georgegreenwood.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
Voters have been denied the right to know whether any ministers declared past criminal convictions when appointed, after a transparency tribunal upheld Whitehall attempts to keep its vetting processes secret for data protection reasons. www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
thetimes.com
Ministers’ criminal records to remain secret, tribunal rules
The public has been denied the right to know of ministers’ disclosures of criminal records during vetting processes, despite a ‘legitimate public interest’
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Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · 02/08/2026
New: A business that made a six-figure donation to Reform UK received interest-free loans of £67m from unnamed “related companies” in the months before, raising questions about the possible origin of the funds. observer.co.uk/news/politic...
observer.co.uk
Reform given six-figure donation by firm that received £6...
Nigel Farage’s party is facing questions about the lack of transparency over £100,000 in funds donated by a management consultancy
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THE NERVE @thenerve.news · 01/08/2026
Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook has approved the controversial data centre on behalf of Angela Rayner, overruling Tower Hamlets Council and local opposition. Brick Lane local residents react:
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The Guardian @theguardian.com · 01/08/2026
Turn failing water firms into not-for-profit cooperatives, MPs and mayors tell PM
theguardian.com
Turn failing water firms into not-for-profit cooperatives, MPs and mayors tell PM
Labour politicians say mutualised model puts public in control without adding debt to government’s balance sheet MPs and mayors close to Andy Burnham have told the prime minister there is a “third way” tlauo gain more control of failing companies, as the row over whether or not to nationalise Thames Water rumbles on. Burnham is said to be concerned about the increase in government debt that Treasury projections show could be a result of nationalising water companies. Continue reading...
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Tim Picton @timpicton.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
In all honestly, I think the tenacious work of orgs like @foxglovelegal.bsky.social, @goodlawproject.org and investigative journalists (too many to name here, but you know who you are) in unravelling this huge scandal has been massively undervalued and overlooked...
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