Steve Goodrich
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stevejgoodrich.bsky.social
Steve Goodrich
@stevejgoodrich.bsky.social
Head of Research and Investigations at Transparency International UK. Formerly at Electoral Commission. Following the money.
Reposted by Steve Goodrich
🆕 REPORT 🆕

As leaders meet for the Joint Ministerial Council today, our new analysis shows the UK's offshore financial centres are not delivering on corporate transparency commitments.

Behind the promises, very little has changed.

Find out more ⤵️
www.transparency.org.uk/publications...
November 26, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Reposted by Steve Goodrich
🗣️ Today "underscores the very real danger that hostile states and their proxies pose to our democratic processes, and the relatively small amounts of money it took to gain influence within our political system."

Our full statement on Nathan Gill's sentence ⤵
www.transparency.org.uk/news/105-yea...
10.5-year sentence for Nathan Gill shows "real and urgent" threat of foreign interference
www.transparency.org.uk
November 21, 2025 at 1:22 PM
At some point the UK's going to have to change its diplomatic stance vs. the current US presidency if its talk of protecting the rule of law is to mean anything. Imagine if the PM called for MPs and Lords to be sentenced to death for doing the same. Unhinged, authoritarian, fascist.
November 21, 2025 at 9:37 AM
Reposted by Steve Goodrich
🗣️ "If Labour has accepted contributions for receptions without proper declaration, that’s a serious compliance failure."

@stevejgoodrich.bsky.social spoke to the @financialtimes.com about the clear rules around political donations for political parties.

www.ft.com/content/6fd3...
Elections watchdog examining Labour drinks receptions with businesses
The party classifies such events as ‘commercial partnerships’
www.ft.com
November 17, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Another important piece of the COVID procurement puzzle from David Conn @theguardian.com

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Revealed: The billion-pound PPE contractor with a Tory MP on site
Special report: Uniserve was paid £1.4bn for Covid contracts that included supply of £178.5m in never-used equipment
www.theguardian.com
November 8, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Parties offering cash for access is corrosive to democracy, reinforcing the public view that politics is a game for a wealthy elite, with little concern for those without deep pockets. Elections Bill is an opp to remove the corrupting influence of big money www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Kemi Badenoch to relaunch exclusive ‘advisory board’ for high-value donors
Exclusive: Tory leader has plans to reinstate group that provided top donors with direct access to senior ministers
www.theguardian.com
November 7, 2025 at 7:18 AM
A £33.7m London mansion owned by now sanctioned Iranian banker Ali Ansari revealed by @occrp.org to add to £73m+ UK asset portfolio reported previously by @privateeyenews.bsky.social www.occrp.org/en/news/sanc...
Sanctioned Iranian Banker Owns Multi-Million-Pound London Mansion
Land records reveal a 33.7 million pounds London mansion owned by sanctioned Iranian banker Ali Ansari, accused of aiding the IRGC.
www.occrp.org
November 5, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Reposted by Steve Goodrich
🚨 Great to speak with @petergeoghegan.bsky.social at Democracy for Sale about my new book - VIP Lane: Cronyism and the Pandemic.

Watch the interview here: youtu.be/QkXu3-RanEo?...

Book available here: viplanebook.com
Covid Contracts Scandal: Tory Burned Billions That Could Have Funded 200,000 NHS Nurses
YouTube video by Democracy for Sale
youtu.be
November 3, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Looks like Jersey Gov has decided to diverge from AMLD6, despite years of saying they were going to follow the EU's approach. The consultation proposes a legit interest test that differs significantly from AMLD6, and follows the more restrictive approach by the Overseas Territories.
The Government of Jersey has launched a public consultation on extending access to its central beneficial ownership register to people with legitimate interest.

Submissions due by 30 January 2026.

Full details: www.gov.je/Government/C...

#beneficialownership #legitimateinterest
November 4, 2025 at 10:22 AM
Reposted by Steve Goodrich
The Government of Jersey has launched a public consultation on extending access to its central beneficial ownership register to people with legitimate interest.

Submissions due by 30 January 2026.

Full details: www.gov.je/Government/C...

#beneficialownership #legitimateinterest
November 3, 2025 at 11:03 AM
Well deserved. Good luck @russellscott1.bsky.social !
🚨Very excited to say that I’ve been shortlisted for a British Journalism Award for my reporting, published by @bylinetimes.bsky.social on the Covid Inquiry & VIP Lane.

👀Read the reports that got me shortlisted here: bylinetimes.com/author/russe...

Thank you 🙏

pressgazette.co.uk/press-gazett...
October 23, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Reposted by Steve Goodrich
Exclusive: Two of Nathan Gill's fellow Ukip/Brexit Party MEPs used the same pro-Russia talking points in European Parliament, after joining him on a paid-for trip to Kyiv

observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
‘Jail is inevitable’ for former Reform politician awaitin...
Two other MEPs joined Nathan Gill on a trip paid for by pro-Russian interests – and 6 weeks later repeated his talking points in Parliament
observer.co.uk
October 23, 2025 at 3:07 PM
The UK has a big dirty money problem. Tens of billions laundered through the economy. In theory there are lots of laws and regulations to stop this from happening, but in practice too many of these don't work effectively. Why? Too many in the private sector don't follow them and do so with impunity.
💷 "These reforms are long overdue and present a welcome step towards fixing the UK’s broken system for tackling dirty money."

Read our full response to the Government’s decision to overhaul the policing of anti-money laundering rules in the private sector ⤵️

www.transparency.org.uk/news/transpa...
Transparency International UK welcomes major step to strengthen Britain’s defences against dirty money
www.transparency.org.uk
October 21, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Reposted by Steve Goodrich
The Sheer Scale of the ‘VIP Lane’ PPE Scandal Has Still Not Been Revealed 5 Years On

Evidence suggests that at 20+ more politically-connected suppliers received contracts worth £1B

I reported on this for @bylinetimes.bsky.social in April: bylinetimes.com/2025/04/16/c...

See also Viplanebook.com
The Sheer Scale of the COVID 'VIP Lane' PPE Scandal Has Still Not Been Revealed Five Years On
New evidence published by the COVID Inquiry suggests that at least 20 more politically-connected suppliers received contracts worth £1 billion
bylinetimes.com
October 12, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Reposted by Steve Goodrich
Not so fun fact..

If you placed 1 million pallets of PPE side by side they would stretch from John o’Groats to Lands End.

Not only was the VIP Lane unlawful it was also incredibly wasteful. Over half of VIP firms supplied PPE deemed unsuitable for the NHS.

Viplanebook.com
October 5, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Reposted by Steve Goodrich
Exclusive: Nigel Farage has not updated his register since May, despite continuing to present his GB News show, record Cameo videos and being a verified X user

Qus are now being asked about the non-registration of his shareholding in GB parent co All Perspectives

observer.co.uk/news/politic...
‘Nine-jobs Nigel’ Farage denies not declaring extra earni...
Roles outside Parliament make Reform leader the highest-earning MP, but register of interests has not been updated since end of May
observer.co.uk
October 4, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Reposted by Steve Goodrich
WHO PAYS, WHO DECIDES? BIG MONEY IN BRITISH POLITICS

📆Monday, 4.30pm | Nova Scotia | Liverpool

Join our Director of Policy, @duncanhames.bsky.social, @liambyrnemp.bsky.social, @suehawley.bsky.social & @edhodgsoned.bsky.social to hear about big money's influence on our democracy.
September 28, 2025 at 3:52 PM
This is what happens when democracies die.

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
September 27, 2025 at 6:28 AM
Reposted by Steve Goodrich
📽️ NEW 📽️

Does the UK have a dark money problem?

Should we be worried?

As our Senior Research Officer, @rosewhiff.bsky.social explains - the public have a right to be concerned about the grip of dark money on our politics.
September 26, 2025 at 11:18 AM
Reposted by Steve Goodrich
📺 "It is probably the biggest misspending scandal in the UK of all time."

A ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review from The Guardian for last night's The Covid Contracts documentary featuring commentary and analysis from our Chief Executive, @danieljbruce.bsky.social.

Now available on ITVX ⤵️
www.itv.com/watch/the-co...
September 22, 2025 at 9:07 AM
Russell's being very modest here, he's also just written THE book on the VIP lane. Available now russellscott.substack.com/p/new-book-o...
September 21, 2025 at 7:15 AM
Great to see UK coverage of what's happening in Georgia. I remember how the Rose revolution 20yrs ago got so much airtime and print space, yet now almost nothing as it slides into authoritarianism and further into Russia's orbit. Needs more attention.

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...
Owner of Georgian broadcaster called country’s ‘propaganda megaphone’ is based in London
Imedi TV owner denies criticism by EU disinformation monitor and says it is editorially independent
www.theguardian.com
September 21, 2025 at 6:32 AM
Reposted by Steve Goodrich
🚨TV tonight: an essential record of the Covid contracts scandal

An investigation into the extent of greed and deception in PPE provision.

🎥More detail on our ITV documentary here 👇

www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...
TV tonight: an essential record of the Covid contracts scandal
An investigation into the extent of greed and deception in PPE provision. Plus: weird drama Coldwater goes off the rails. Here’s what to watch this evening
www.theguardian.com
September 21, 2025 at 6:28 AM