Letter to the Prime Minister RE: The record vacancy of the Anti-Corruption Champion

Dear Prime Minister,

We send this letter at a critical time for Britain and its ongoing fight against corruption.

Your government is making important progress via the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill (ECCTB), which will, among other reforms, help to tackle the misuse of UK companies in economic crime. Our UK Anti-Corruption Coalition also welcomes the reaffirmed commitment to public beneficial ownership registries, especially in light of recent setbacks in corporate transparency in the EU. Elsewhere, reforms within the Procurement Bill will make the UK’s public contracting regime more resistant to corruption, while sanctions have targeted supporters of Putin’s kleptocracy and Russia’s illegal war on Ukraine.

However, we are missing a crucial pillar in the leadership and governance of Britain’s anti-corruption efforts because the role of the Prime Minister’s Anti-Corruption Champion has now been vacant for one full year.

Since the post was created in 2006, Anti-Corruption Champions have been key figures in the implementation of important initiatives, including the Bribery Act, the creation of cross-departmental anti-corruption strategies and the establishment of the leading Joint Anti-Corruption Unit within the Home Office.

The absence of a Champion is curtailing the UK’s ability to seize opportunities to lead and represent the UK in the global fight against corruption. The 10th Conference of State Parties to the UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) will take place in December in the United States, while the 20th anniversary of the UNCAC this October will be an important moment to reflect on the UK’s role in driving global efforts to tackle corruption in the years ahead. The Champion should be at the forefront of the UK’s representation on the international stage - this absence of leadership sends the wrong message.

Domestically, the UK Government is due to publish its second Anti-Corruption Strategy, while the second Economic Crime Plan was published in March. With royal assent of the ECCTB and Procurement Bill also expected this year, along with the existing Boardman Review and Committee on Standards in Public Life recommendations, the Champion would play a key role in implementing these initiatives.

Recognising that the government is taking important steps in the right direction, the continued vacancy of the Anti-Corruption Champion misses an opportunity to demonstrate the government’s aspirations to tackle corruption at home and abroad.

We urge you to appoint a Champion at the earliest opportunity, and to launch a consultation to gather ideas for strengthening the UK's anti-corruption governance framework.

Yours sincerely,

Rachel Davies Teka

Co-Chair of UK Anti-Corruption Coalition

Advocacy Director, Transparency International UK

Thom Townsend

Executive Director, Open Ownership

Co-Chair of UK Anti-Corruption Coalition