Upcoming Events
Upcoming Events:
Webinar: Will the Upcoming Elections Bill Actually Promote the Integrity of Our Elections?
Democracies around the world are in crisis, with steep erosions of trust; corruption; foreign interference; and oligarchy taking hold. The Government is expected to release its highly anticipated Elections Bill imminently, and has set out their intentions to ‘strengthen our democracy and uphold the integrity of elections’ – but will the provisions included in the upcoming Bill be sufficient to do just that? Join our panel of experts to discuss what is missing from the White Paper as it stands, and what needs to happen for this Bill to meet this unprecedented political moment.
The highly-anticipated White Paper set out proposals to lower the voting age to 16, introduce automatic voter registration, and close dark money loopholes to protect against foreign electoral interference. But some measures to promote election integrity are notably absent – including the restoration of the Electoral Commission’s independence, a pledge Labour made while in opposition, and efforts to rid our politics of its megadonor and big money problem.
Will the policies proposed actually strengthen our democracy? What provisions are missing? Will the exclusion of these policies jeopardise the Bill’s success at a critical moment for our democracy? Join electoral experts to discuss whether they expect the Elections Bill to deliver on its promise to ‘strengthen our democracy and uphold the integrity of elections,’ or fall short.
Can You Keep A Secret? Transparency International UK & The Ferret at SNP Conference
Transparency International UK and the Ferret invite you to come and discuss unpacking hidden ownership of land, improvements in transparency about who owns property in Scotland, and what more still needs to be done.
Featuring:
Jamie Hepburn MSP, Minister for Parliamentary Business and Co-chair of Scotland’s Open Government Partnership
Juliet Swann, Nations & Regions Programme Manager, Transparency International UK
Margot Mollat, Senior Policy & Research Manager, Transparency International UK
Jamie Mann, Journalist Director & Investigative Reporter, The Ferret
UKACC x Bright Blue: Brave New World? Fighting Corruption and Kleptocrats in an age of Trump
The UK is home to billions of pounds of dirty money, undermining national security. How might the new Trump administration change how the UK and our allies fight money laundering? This panel will assess the Labour Government’s anti-corruption record in this new geopolitical context, and ask what must be done to uphold the rule of law, curb organised crime, and tackle terrorist financing.
Featuring:
Joe Harrison (Chair), Senior Researcher, Bright Blue
The Rt Hon Sir Andrew Mitchell MP, Former Deputy Foreign Secretary
Daniel Bruce, Chief Executive, Transparency International UK
Cat Neilan, Whitehall Editor for The Observer
John Penrose, former MP for Weston-super-Mare and former UK Anti-Corruption Champion
Transparency International UK x Spotlight on Corruption x More In Common: Who Pays, Who Decides? Big Money in British Politics
Join us to discuss the corrupting influence of money from home and abroad on our democracy. Drawing on new public opinion insights, this panel will discuss what must be done to stop the rise of mega donors and dark money shaping our politics.
Featuring:
John Johnston (chair), London Influence Reporter, Politico
Rt. Hon. Baroness Hodge of Barking, UK Anti-Corruption Champion
Rt Hon. Liam Byrne MP, Chair of the Business & Trade Committee and Labour MP for Birmingham Hodge Hill & Solihull North
Duncan Hames, Director of Policy & Programmes, Transparency International UK
Dr Susan Hawley, Executive Director, Spotlight on Corruption
Ed Hodgson, Deputy Director (Research) at More in Common
This event is in partnership with More In Common.
UKACC x Fabians: Brave New World? Fighting Corruption in the New Trump Era
How does hidden wealth drive corruption, conflict, and security threats, and what can we do to respond? This session will bring together leading voices to explore the UK’s role in anti-corruption, and next steps.
Featuring:
Baroness Margaret Hodge, UK Anti-Corruption Champion and former Chair of the APPG on Anti-Corruption and Responsible Tax
Liam Byrne MP, Chair of the Business & Trade Committee
Phil Brickell MP, Chair of the APPG on Anti-Corruption and Responsible Tax
Dr Susan Hawley, Executive Director at Spotlight on Corruption and Co-Chair of the UK Anti-Corruption Coalition
This event is in partnership with The Fabians Society.
Brave New World: Fighting Corruption and Oligarchs in an era of Trump
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine revealed the UK’s shameful role in providing safe harbour for kleptocrats, oligarchs, and corrupt criminals. Buying mansions in the UK; opening shell companies in our overseas territories; using our lawyers and accountants — they deploy these tools to hide their crimes. Join us to discuss what the Lib Dems can do to counter corruption in the UK during the age of Trump.
Featuring:
Dominic Martin (chair), Former Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate for East Hampshire
Richard Foord MP, Liberal Democrat MP for Honiton and Sidmouth
Mike Martin MP, Liberal Democrat MP for Tunbridge Wells
Edward Lucas, writer, journalist, and national security specialist
Susan Coughtrie, Director of the Foreign Policy Centre