Daniel Bruce

I was pleased to meet Scotland’s First Minister @johnswinney.bsky.social earlier. Together with @muteswann.bsky.social we discussed his government’s work on an inaugural Scottish Anti-Corruption Strategy and @transparencyuk.bsky.social’s policy recommendations for the process.

🗣️"We can't have billionaires treating political parties like they were football clubs" @duncanhames.bsky.social Reform's £72m in pledges from just two crypto-billionaires is a watershed moment. But it's not a new problem. Politics' dependence on the super rich needs to end. More ⤵️

The most fundamental question in politics is: whose support do you need to win and hold power? Is it warlords, aristocrats, empires or "the demos"? If the answer is "billionaires", you are not a democracy but a plutocracy. That's why democracies *must* erect barricades against capture by the rich

These short films were not meant to be prophetic. The idea was that we should act to protect our democracy before it is too late:

🚨Surge in billionaire money in UK politics hits record high Reports today that two crypto-billionaires have pledged a combined £72million to Reform UK highlight the urgent need for a donations cap. Full statement below ⤵️

🆕 New research finds seized assets at risk of not returning to victims At least £9.6m in suspected corrupt Azerbaijani wealth has been kept by the UK instead of returned and a further £64m at risk of the same fate. This suspect money should be returned to its victims. Read Closing the Loop ⤵️

Reform UK foreign donation allegations: @transparencyuk.bsky.social’s @duncanhames.bsky.social analyses the @channel4news.bsky.social findings with @lbc.co.uk’s @mrjamesob.bsky.social #UKPolitics

The conspiracy filmed here replicates other allegations of channelling donations on behalf of family members not permitted to make UK political donations. Those now warrant official investigation.

🚨 TI-UK STATEMENT Revelations that Reform officials allegedly plotted to break the law on foreign donations should worry everyone who cares about UK democracy. This story underlines how big money is corrupting UK politics, and the urgent need for a meaningful cap on donations. More ⤵️

🔎 Interested in tackling corruption in the defence industry? Our Defence Security team are hiring a Head of Policy to lead our policy work tackling corruption in the global defence sector. 📆 Applications close 25 August Full details ⤵️ www.prospect-us.co.uk/job/195498-h...

📝RUSSINA LINKED HOUSING IN LONDON DESPITE SANCTIONS Our joint investigation with @theipaper.com uncovered 33 Russian-linked properties in the UK, worth £700m, despite their owners being sanctioned. And many of these properties have direct links to the UK's Overseas Territories. More below ⤵️

Should political donations be capped at £100,000 per year? @cityam.bsky.social invited me to debate the issue in opposition to the Taxpayers' Alliance. Would you agree with their verdict after the debate? Take a look and judge for yourself:

COVID-19 INQUIRY: VIP LANE INCREASED "RISK OF ABUSE" £10 billion of public money was wasted and five years later, nobody has yet been held to account. It's critical the Government learn the lessons from this and go further to guard against the risk of corruption in future emergencies. More ⤵️

Today's #CovidInquiry report into PPE procurement lays bare one of the most expensive governance failures in modern British history: a botched pandemic procurement response that left frontline workers exposed, weakened the pandemic response and wasted £10 billion of public money.

This week the UK Covid-19 Inquiry will publish the findings of its much-anticipated Procurement Module. We at @transparencyuk.bsky.social have produced thisfilm to revisit our findings + those of @opencontracting.bsky.social & @spotlightcorruption.org www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlf0...

With MPs set to vote tomorrow to control money in politcs, @guardianheather.bsky.social sums-up the case: "it is wrong in principle, and dangerous in practice, for a new class of mega-donors to bankroll British politics. Donations should be capped; and if Starmer does not act, his successor must."

On Tuesday, MPs will debate controls on the money in politics. We @transparencyuk.bsky.social think it is time they put a cap on the biggest donations anyone can make. Please ask your MP to support this call:

Right now, just 4-6% of lobbying has to be declared. The rest happens in the dark. The Ethics and Integrity Commission has just handed ministers a serious blueprint for cleaning up lobbying. A serious, welcome blueprint. Now ministers have to deliver it. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Respect for all those MPs putting the country's democracy before their own interests and the demands of party whips ahead of these debates next Tuesday.

💷 Big money is corrupting our politics The government says democracy is not for sale - but still won't cap what a mega-donor can give. Stella Creasy's amendment would. We're backing her call for a £100,000 cap on all political donations. ⤵️

It's been an extraordinary privilege to lead the vital work of @transparencyuk.bsky.social for nearly seven years. I am now preparing for a new challenge in an exciting new role at Channel 4 where I take up post in October. www.channel4.com/press/news/c...

Is the UK inching closer to a much needed cap on political donations? "Without it, the wealthiest will still be able to buy influence over our democracy in a way ordinary voters never could." @duncanhames.bsky.social @transparencyuk.bsky.social www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

📺Big money is corrupting UK politics. Mega donations are being used by the super rich to get power and influence, too often at the expense of the public interest. We were in Parliament today making the case that it's time for change. More below ⤵️

🎬THE MONEY BEHIND OUR POLITICS Big money is corrupting UK politics. And our politics is at records highs with almost £100 million was spent at the previous election. But where does all that money actually come from? More below ⤵️ www.youtube.com/shorts/gUroW...

📺 CORRUPTION, NOW STREAMING We've been busy building our video capacity to shine a new light on the corruption we're fighting. Exciting content is coming soon. Corruption is a big story though & sometimes 2 mins doesn't cut it. Follow the story. Subscribe ⤵️ www.youtube.com/@Transparenc...

💥Burnham backs public on donation caps Our polling found ⤵️ 🔹 83% of Brits believe wealthy donors use political donations to buy influence 🔹 Nearly half say they would view more favourably a party that introduced a cap & just 7% would view one less favourably. It's time to end mega donations.

🔎 NEW: Almost 1 in 6 peers holds a paid political advisory role that carries a significant lobbying risk. The House of Lords is meant to be a place of independent scrutiny — not a network of political advisers for hire. Our investigation ⤵️ www.transparency.org.uk/news/house-l...

#PoliticsNotForSale 35% of political donations now come from the ultra-wealthy. When money dominates politics, ordinary people go unheard. And that's why we need your help. Send a postcard today to tell your MP it's time to end big money corrupting our politics. Details ⤵️

📺 MPs RESPOND TO ILLICIT FINANCE SUMMIT DELAY Corruption is an economic & national security threat. And MPs were clear: The Summit's delay can't slow action. The delay should be used to get our own house in order & lead in the global fight against corruption. Watch below ⤵️

One in five people in Sub-Saharan Africa face corruption when interacting with public services. We helped four communities fight back against land corruption. And win. Read their stories ⬇️ www.transparency.org/en/blog/ille...

Well now, this is getting interesting:

One headline after another reveals the corrupting influence of big money in UK politics - 92% of British voters want a strict cap on donations to political parties. If you're one of them, please send a postcard to your local MP here: #PoliticsNotForSale politicsnotforsale.mp.tiuk.justpost.cards

92% of British voters want a cap on the size of donations to political parties, yet government still stops short of a universal limit. Good to see this challenge put directly to the Prime Minister.

"the single most enlightening conversation [he] had in the last month on trade", yet somehow also the meeting to have overlooked. Genuine lobbying transparency in Westminster and Whitehall is long overdue.

Guernsey - and the other UK Crown Dependencies - could face action from the UK if it fails to improve transparency about who owns offshore companies, according to an interview with the UK’s Anti-Corruption Champion, Baroness Margaret Hodge www.bailiwickexpress.com/news-ge/uk-c...

This Overseas Territories Day, we celebrate the relationship the UK has with its territories but also acknowledge the challenges. Secrecy in jurisdictions such as the BVI and the Cayman Islands continue to facilitate illicit finance at scale. And it comes with a serious human cost. More below ⤵️

🪙Want to know who is lobbying politicians on behalf of the crypto industry? Our Open Access database reveals 166,000+ Westminster & Holyrood meetings with external orgs since 2012. Search by MP, company or topic. Transparency matters. Explore for yourself ⤵️ openaccess.transparency.org.uk

As an #AntiCorruption campaigner in the UK, I’m often told ‘this couldn’t happen here’ and that corruption is only a problem in ‘far off places’. This embezzlement case, close to the then heart of Scottish govt, proves no country can be complacent.

🗣️ “When government transparency is treated as a tick-box exercise, or ignored altogether, this undermines our right to know how decisions are made and leaves room for undue influence." Duncan Hames speaking with Ethan Shone at openDemocracy on why the UK needs to end lobbying behind closed doors.

💷 BIG MONEY CORRUPTS UK POLITICS In 2015, £1m+ donations made up just 1% of private political donations. By 2024? They made up more than a third. Today, it was put straight to the PM: the Election's Bill doesn't go far enough. It’s well past time to cap donations & end big money in politics.