From Aspiration to Action: Experts Call for Rapid Implementation Plans for New Anti-Corruption Strategy

Monday 8 December 2025 — The UK Anti-Corruption Coalition welcomes the publication of the government strategy to tackle corruption, over 1000 days since the expiry of the previous strategy. 

With strong commitments to review transparency of who owns what in the UK, clamp down on professional enablers, and tackle legal threats against journalists exposing corruption, this strategy is a promising step in the fight against corruption in this parliament and beyond. We particularly welcome the oversight mechanism which includes external stakeholders such as civil society and regular updates to Parliament.

Nevertheless, glaring gaps remain. 

There is no commitment to upgrade the UK’s lobbying regime despite multiple expert reports highlighting its serious weaknesses, no meaningful commitments from the Ministry of Defence to confront economic crime, and no measures to protect the victimisation of whistleblowers or provide them with remedies – all vital provisions that would protect our institutions from corruption. 

Critically, for key measures that are addressed in the strategy, several lack any meaningful timeline for taking forward commitments. Without a clear plan, detailed timeframes and explicit next steps for implementation of this strategy’s ambitions, it risks operating as a statement of intent rather than a plan of action. 

Now is the time for the UK to show that it will get its own house in order so that it can step up to a leadership role on the global stage in tackling corruption. This means the government must show ambition and urgency in turning their intentions into reality, and bring forward more detailed implementation plans. Our coalition looks forward to working with the government as it does this.

Dr. Susan Hawley, Co-Chair of the UK Anti-Corruption Coalition and Executive Director of Spotlight on Corruption, said:

“This new anti-corruption strategy is a major opportunity for the UK to show real global leadership in the fight against corruption and illicit finance. We strongly welcome the high levels of political support behind it. 

But if the government is serious about restoring public trust, stronger action is needed to make our political financing regime fairer, to bring lobbying out of the shadows, and to protect government spending in high risk industries like defence from corruption. 

As a coalition of anti-corruption experts, we will be holding the government’s feet to the fire to address these gaps and make sure they implement this strategy with the urgency it requires.”

Gavin Hayman, Co-Chair of the UK Anti-Corruption Coalition and Executive Director of the Open Contracting Partnership, said:

“After almost three years without a strategy, these commitments must turn into real impact – fast. Corruption squanders public funds, twists public decisions, and empowers overseas tyrants.

We finally have a clear diagnosis. What we need next is bold, rapid action that the public can see and feel."

Our experts intend to publish a briefing with further in-depth analysis of certain commitments shortly. Later today, leaders in the UK Anti-Corruption Coalition are convening a civil society panel at a government launch event for this strategy.