Tim Picton
@timpicton.bsky.social
Anti-corruption advocacy for @spotlightcorruption.org. Views own or sometimes heavily plagiarised.
Reposted by Tim Picton
Calls to halt UK Palantir contracts grow amid ‘lack of transparency’ over deals
Calls to halt UK Palantir contracts grow amid ‘lack of transparency’ over deals
Opposition MPs urge Labour to pause public contracts with the US tech firm after attempts to probe deals blocked
Labour should halt public contracts with the US tech company Palantir, opposition politicians have said, amid growing concern at the lack of government transparency over dealings with the company and Peter Mandelson.
Since 2023, Palantir has secured more than £500m in contracts with the NHS and the Ministry of Defence, while it employed Global Counsel, the lobbying firm founded by Mandelson. Emails released by the US Department of Justice show Mandelson sought help from Jeffrey Epstein to find “rich individuals” as clients. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
February 5, 2026 at 7:16 PM
Calls to halt UK Palantir contracts grow amid ‘lack of transparency’ over deals
Three words (derivative of Liz Truss)
What a disgrace.
What a disgrace.
🔴 BREAKING: Labour Together paid controversial PR firm £30k to investigate journalists who were digging into how its undeclared funding
Reporters from Sunday Times, Guardian and other outlets targetted
*And* Morgan McSweeney knew about it
Full story:
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/exclusive-...
Reporters from Sunday Times, Guardian and other outlets targetted
*And* Morgan McSweeney knew about it
Full story:
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/exclusive-...
BREAKING: McSweeney’s think tank paid PR firm to investigate journalists
Labour Together put private investigators onto journalists writing about its funding. Starmer's right-hand man knew.
democracyforsale.substack.com
February 5, 2026 at 11:32 PM
Three words (derivative of Liz Truss)
What a disgrace.
What a disgrace.
Reposted by Tim Picton
🚨 Why bringing misconduct in public office charges against Lord Mandelson faces major hurdles
⛔ Why the changes in the #HillsboroughBill probably won't help
💥 And what needs to happen next if we're to restore integrity to British politics
Read @suehawley.bsky.social's analysis 👇
⛔ Why the changes in the #HillsboroughBill probably won't help
💥 And what needs to happen next if we're to restore integrity to British politics
Read @suehawley.bsky.social's analysis 👇
Mandelson’s misconduct – a moment of reckoning for the UK’s political establishment - Spotlight on Corruption
The Mandelson scandal must lead to a review of whether the new misconduct in public office offence in the Hillsborough Bill is robust enough, and urgent
www.spotlightcorruption.org
February 5, 2026 at 2:40 PM
🚨 Why bringing misconduct in public office charges against Lord Mandelson faces major hurdles
⛔ Why the changes in the #HillsboroughBill probably won't help
💥 And what needs to happen next if we're to restore integrity to British politics
Read @suehawley.bsky.social's analysis 👇
⛔ Why the changes in the #HillsboroughBill probably won't help
💥 And what needs to happen next if we're to restore integrity to British politics
Read @suehawley.bsky.social's analysis 👇
Good to see MPs raising pertinent questions about this conflict of interest over government dealings with Palantir.
I remember investigating this for Good Law Project back in April and being told in response to FOIs that no paper trail was kept from Starmer and Mandelson’s visit to Palantir’s HQ.
I remember investigating this for Good Law Project back in April and being told in response to FOIs that no paper trail was kept from Starmer and Mandelson’s visit to Palantir’s HQ.
“Peter Mandelson has a clear conflict of interest – and the failure to keep a minute of the meeting he arranged for the PM shows a kind of contempt for the public interest.”
From April last year – how Mandelson’s embassy fixed a meeting for Mandelson’s client Palantir:
https://goodlaw.social/nszl
From April last year – how Mandelson’s embassy fixed a meeting for Mandelson’s client Palantir:
https://goodlaw.social/nszl
Mandelson’s embassy fixed Starmer’s visit to spytech firm | Good Law Project
The British Ambassador to the United States is at the centre of a web connecting Palantir and the prime minister. But what did they all discuss?
goodlaw.social
February 4, 2026 at 8:24 PM
Good to see MPs raising pertinent questions about this conflict of interest over government dealings with Palantir.
I remember investigating this for Good Law Project back in April and being told in response to FOIs that no paper trail was kept from Starmer and Mandelson’s visit to Palantir’s HQ.
I remember investigating this for Good Law Project back in April and being told in response to FOIs that no paper trail was kept from Starmer and Mandelson’s visit to Palantir’s HQ.
I wonder if X AI London, Elon’s Musk’s UK subsidiary vehicle for Grok, could soon face compulsory strike-off from the Companies House register for failing to file a confirmation statement more than a month after the deadline?
find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/1613...
find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/1613...
X.AI LONDON LTD overview - Find and update company information - GOV.UK
X.AI LONDON LTD - Free company information from Companies House including registered office address, filing history, accounts, annual return, officers, charges, business activity
find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk
February 4, 2026 at 6:52 PM
I wonder if X AI London, Elon’s Musk’s UK subsidiary vehicle for Grok, could soon face compulsory strike-off from the Companies House register for failing to file a confirmation statement more than a month after the deadline?
find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/1613...
find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/1613...
A couple of weeks left to apply for this brilliant role!
Do get in touch if you would like to know more about it.
Do get in touch if you would like to know more about it.
💥 Are you an experienced comms pro with a track record of crafting & delivering messages to achieve real change?
✊ Keen to join the fight against #corruption?
🫵 You might be the person we need! We’re looking for a comms adviser to join the friendly Spotlight team.
Apply below 👇. Deadline: 14 Feb.
✊ Keen to join the fight against #corruption?
🫵 You might be the person we need! We’re looking for a comms adviser to join the friendly Spotlight team.
Apply below 👇. Deadline: 14 Feb.
Spotlight is recruiting! We are looking for a Senior Communications Adviser - Spotlight on Corruption
We are looking for a highly motivated and gifted communicator to craft Spotlight’s messages and help us achieve real change.
www.spotlightcorruption.org
February 2, 2026 at 10:34 AM
A couple of weeks left to apply for this brilliant role!
Do get in touch if you would like to know more about it.
Do get in touch if you would like to know more about it.
Reposted by Tim Picton
FT Exclusive: The emails show former UK ambassador Peter Mandelson’s husband writing to Epstein in September 2009, asking for money to fund an osteopathy course. ft.trib.al/QLQvCPJ
January 30, 2026 at 4:42 PM
FT Exclusive: The emails show former UK ambassador Peter Mandelson’s husband writing to Epstein in September 2009, asking for money to fund an osteopathy course. ft.trib.al/QLQvCPJ
Reposted by Tim Picton
👇 A little over two weeks left to apply for this great comms role.
💥 Are you an experienced comms pro with a track record of crafting & delivering messages to achieve real change?
✊ Keen to join the fight against #corruption?
🫵 You might be the person we need! We’re looking for a comms adviser to join the friendly Spotlight team.
Apply below 👇. Deadline: 14 Feb.
✊ Keen to join the fight against #corruption?
🫵 You might be the person we need! We’re looking for a comms adviser to join the friendly Spotlight team.
Apply below 👇. Deadline: 14 Feb.
Spotlight is recruiting! We are looking for a Senior Communications Adviser - Spotlight on Corruption
We are looking for a highly motivated and gifted communicator to craft Spotlight’s messages and help us achieve real change.
www.spotlightcorruption.org
January 30, 2026 at 2:58 PM
👇 A little over two weeks left to apply for this great comms role.
Reposted by Tim Picton
NEW Nerve investigation reveals extent of Palantir's enmeshment in UK state operations
Peter Thiel's surveillance company has deals with government bodies amounting to at least £670m – inc. £15m contract with nuclear weapons agency
By @carolecadwalla.bsky.social Charlie Young & Max Colbert
🔗⏬
Peter Thiel's surveillance company has deals with government bodies amounting to at least £670m – inc. £15m contract with nuclear weapons agency
By @carolecadwalla.bsky.social Charlie Young & Max Colbert
🔗⏬
January 27, 2026 at 2:57 PM
NEW Nerve investigation reveals extent of Palantir's enmeshment in UK state operations
Peter Thiel's surveillance company has deals with government bodies amounting to at least £670m – inc. £15m contract with nuclear weapons agency
By @carolecadwalla.bsky.social Charlie Young & Max Colbert
🔗⏬
Peter Thiel's surveillance company has deals with government bodies amounting to at least £670m – inc. £15m contract with nuclear weapons agency
By @carolecadwalla.bsky.social Charlie Young & Max Colbert
🔗⏬
Pleased to have given some comments to @theferret.scot for their latest investigation 🔎
Over the border in England, we're also seeing an inchoate pipeline of donations via lobbying entities around AI data centres, which is also worth keeping an eye on...
www.theferret.scot/political-pa...
Over the border in England, we're also seeing an inchoate pipeline of donations via lobbying entities around AI data centres, which is also worth keeping an eye on...
www.theferret.scot/political-pa...
Political parties took thousands from lobbying groups in Scotland. Campaigners say they are buying access to power
Political parties have accepted thousands of pounds from lobbyists in recent years. Anti-corruption campaigners claimed donations buy lobby firms “privileged access” to politicians for their wealthy c...
www.theferret.scot
January 26, 2026 at 10:58 AM
Pleased to have given some comments to @theferret.scot for their latest investigation 🔎
Over the border in England, we're also seeing an inchoate pipeline of donations via lobbying entities around AI data centres, which is also worth keeping an eye on...
www.theferret.scot/political-pa...
Over the border in England, we're also seeing an inchoate pipeline of donations via lobbying entities around AI data centres, which is also worth keeping an eye on...
www.theferret.scot/political-pa...
Reposted by Tim Picton
A world where our health records are used to power state-sponsored surveillance and target vulnerable communities isn’t so far away
https://goodlawproject.org/palantir-uses-medical-records-to-target-people-for-ice-in-the-us-will-the-uk-be-next
https://goodlawproject.org/palantir-uses-medical-records-to-target-people-for-ice-in-the-us-will-the-uk-be-next
Palantir uses medical records to target people for ICE in the US – will the UK be next? | Good Law Project
Deadly ICE raids in the US rely on Palantir tools that mine health records to produce real-time data on people’s location – a chilling prospect for the NHS
goodlawproject.org
January 25, 2026 at 3:39 PM
A world where our health records are used to power state-sponsored surveillance and target vulnerable communities isn’t so far away
https://goodlawproject.org/palantir-uses-medical-records-to-target-people-for-ice-in-the-us-will-the-uk-be-next
https://goodlawproject.org/palantir-uses-medical-records-to-target-people-for-ice-in-the-us-will-the-uk-be-next
Reposted by Tim Picton
Nigel Farage attended Davos on a pass sponsored by the family office of Iranian billionaire Sasan Ghandehari, which told the World Economic Forum that the Reform UK leader had advised the company since 2018. ft.trib.al/V138xDu
January 23, 2026 at 10:18 PM
Nigel Farage attended Davos on a pass sponsored by the family office of Iranian billionaire Sasan Ghandehari, which told the World Economic Forum that the Reform UK leader had advised the company since 2018. ft.trib.al/V138xDu
Fascinating investigation by BIRN Montenegro on how the country is struggling to grapple with the threat that crypto donations pose to its democracy, alongside its links (and parallels) to UK politics.
birn.me/analize/krip...
birn.me/analize/krip...
birn.me
January 12, 2026 at 4:51 PM
Fascinating investigation by BIRN Montenegro on how the country is struggling to grapple with the threat that crypto donations pose to its democracy, alongside its links (and parallels) to UK politics.
birn.me/analize/krip...
birn.me/analize/krip...
Reposted by Tim Picton
💥 Powerful intervention from @nataliegreenpeer.bsky.social in the Lords Chamber highlighting how the UK banking system is facilitating the environmental devastation and displacement being caused by the world’s largest private coal developer, the Adani Group ⬇️
January 12, 2026 at 3:27 PM
💥 Powerful intervention from @nataliegreenpeer.bsky.social in the Lords Chamber highlighting how the UK banking system is facilitating the environmental devastation and displacement being caused by the world’s largest private coal developer, the Adani Group ⬇️
Really enjoyed listening to this and good to hear the chair of the Electoral Commission forthrightly call for the removal of ministerial powers to set a strategy and policy statement for the regulator to adhere to.
🎙️ NEW: Foreign interference, mega-donations, online abuse, cancelled elections and falling turnout. We discuss the threats to our electoral system and what the next Elections Bill needs to fix with @electoralcommission.org.uk Chair John Pullinger.
🎧 Listen: buff.ly/j3jZKbV
🎧 Listen: buff.ly/j3jZKbV
January 12, 2026 at 1:16 PM
Really enjoyed listening to this and good to hear the chair of the Electoral Commission forthrightly call for the removal of ministerial powers to set a strategy and policy statement for the regulator to adhere to.
Reposted by Tim Picton
👇 Good coverage here of the growing calls for a ban on donations to political parties in cryptocurrencies. “Crypto donations present real risks to our democracy,” says our Executive Director @suehawley.bsky.social.
Senior Labour MPs urge government to ban cryptocurrency political donations
Campaign groups argue online transactions ‘present real risks to our democracy’ as it is hard to trace their true source
www.theguardian.com
January 12, 2026 at 12:30 PM
👇 Good coverage here of the growing calls for a ban on donations to political parties in cryptocurrencies. “Crypto donations present real risks to our democracy,” says our Executive Director @suehawley.bsky.social.
Reposted by Tim Picton
Seven senior Labour MPs have written to the Prime Minister, urging him to ban crypto political donations
Liam Byrne, chair of the business committee, has told Starmer that if the Elections Bill does not include a prohibition it will be amended until it does
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Liam Byrne, chair of the business committee, has told Starmer that if the Elections Bill does not include a prohibition it will be amended until it does
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Banning all political crypto donations will thwart hostil...
Starmer has been urged to take action with a forthcoming bill to prevent foreign influence on elections
observer.co.uk
January 11, 2026 at 11:22 AM
Seven senior Labour MPs have written to the Prime Minister, urging him to ban crypto political donations
Liam Byrne, chair of the business committee, has told Starmer that if the Elections Bill does not include a prohibition it will be amended until it does
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Liam Byrne, chair of the business committee, has told Starmer that if the Elections Bill does not include a prohibition it will be amended until it does
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Reposted by Tim Picton
🚨 Exclusive: Tony Blair isn’t just a big fan of AI — he's now trying to build and sell AI tools to governments
Tony Blair Institute staff have described the plan as 'insane' and compared it to Palantir
New by D4S and @lighthousereports.com 🧵
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/blair-bids...
Tony Blair Institute staff have described the plan as 'insane' and compared it to Palantir
New by D4S and @lighthousereports.com 🧵
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/blair-bids...
Blair bids to build own AI tools to rival Palantir
TBI insiders warn of “'insane” plan to transform think tank into a tech company
democracyforsale.substack.com
January 9, 2026 at 5:22 PM
🚨 Exclusive: Tony Blair isn’t just a big fan of AI — he's now trying to build and sell AI tools to governments
Tony Blair Institute staff have described the plan as 'insane' and compared it to Palantir
New by D4S and @lighthousereports.com 🧵
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/blair-bids...
Tony Blair Institute staff have described the plan as 'insane' and compared it to Palantir
New by D4S and @lighthousereports.com 🧵
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/blair-bids...
Reposted by Tim Picton
The “manosphere” isn’t just an online phenomenon — it’s taking root in Marbella. From Tate-linked influencers to all-male “entrepreneur” circles, we looked at how the city has become a backdrop for their brands, which often wrap sexist narratives into self-improvement mantras:
Sun, Cigars, and Sexism: How Spain's Marbella Became a Hotspot for 'Manosphere' Influencers
The city on the Costa del Sol has become a stomping ground for male influencers and entrepreneurial friends of Andrew Tate.
buff.ly
January 3, 2026 at 3:45 PM
The “manosphere” isn’t just an online phenomenon — it’s taking root in Marbella. From Tate-linked influencers to all-male “entrepreneur” circles, we looked at how the city has become a backdrop for their brands, which often wrap sexist narratives into self-improvement mantras:
Reposted by Tim Picton
Great to see @thetimes.com cover our latest report on how just a third of criminal assets frozen by UK law enforcement agencies in the fight against #dirtymoney is currently being recovered. www.thetimes.com/article/0c64...
Less than a third of frozen criminal assets recovered under ‘McMafia’ laws
A report found despite powers to crack down on corrupt elites, Britain is still being used to harbour illicit wealth
www.thetimes.com
December 22, 2025 at 9:06 AM
Great to see @thetimes.com cover our latest report on how just a third of criminal assets frozen by UK law enforcement agencies in the fight against #dirtymoney is currently being recovered. www.thetimes.com/article/0c64...
Reposted by Tim Picton
A major Tory donor has been sanctioned in the UK and EU for his alleged role in the Russian oil trade.
The oil magnate Murtaza Lakhani was hit with a UK asset freeze and travel ban on the grounds that his activities were assisting Russia.
www.thetimes.com/uk/law/artic...
The oil magnate Murtaza Lakhani was hit with a UK asset freeze and travel ban on the grounds that his activities were assisting Russia.
www.thetimes.com/uk/law/artic...
Major Tory donor sanctioned over role in Russian oil trade
The government sanctioning statement alleges that Murtaza Lakhani’s activities in the oil sector have supported the Kremlin
www.thetimes.com
December 18, 2025 at 6:32 PM
A major Tory donor has been sanctioned in the UK and EU for his alleged role in the Russian oil trade.
The oil magnate Murtaza Lakhani was hit with a UK asset freeze and travel ban on the grounds that his activities were assisting Russia.
www.thetimes.com/uk/law/artic...
The oil magnate Murtaza Lakhani was hit with a UK asset freeze and travel ban on the grounds that his activities were assisting Russia.
www.thetimes.com/uk/law/artic...
Reposted by Tim Picton
Many thanks to Ollie's family for telling his story to warn others.
Covering the gambling sector, I've met so many people who have refused to be victims, instead channelling their grief into something positive. It's very uplifting.
Covering the gambling sector, I've met so many people who have refused to be victims, instead channelling their grief into something positive. It's very uplifting.
‘It’s shattered our family’: how illicit offshore bookies exploit struggling gamblers who are trying to quit
International network appears designed to profit from gamblers who have signed up with UK self-exclusion scheme GamStop
www.theguardian.com
December 18, 2025 at 9:46 AM
Many thanks to Ollie's family for telling his story to warn others.
Covering the gambling sector, I've met so many people who have refused to be victims, instead channelling their grief into something positive. It's very uplifting.
Covering the gambling sector, I've met so many people who have refused to be victims, instead channelling their grief into something positive. It's very uplifting.
Reposted by Tim Picton
Frustrating to see Labour Government is following a similar trend to the previous government and delaying/blocking release of information on PPE VIP Lane.
A quick 🧵
A quick 🧵
December 17, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Frustrating to see Labour Government is following a similar trend to the previous government and delaying/blocking release of information on PPE VIP Lane.
A quick 🧵
A quick 🧵
Reposted by Tim Picton
👏 Welcome news that there will be an independent review into foreign interference in our politics.
👇 Here's Spotlight’s statement on what it should cover:
👇 Here's Spotlight’s statement on what it should cover:
Statement: Spotlight urges foreign interference review not to ignore broader risks - Spotlight on Corruption
It is highly welcome that the government has launched an independent review into foreign interference in our politics. We have long called for an inquiry
www.spotlightcorruption.org
December 16, 2025 at 3:53 PM
👏 Welcome news that there will be an independent review into foreign interference in our politics.
👇 Here's Spotlight’s statement on what it should cover:
👇 Here's Spotlight’s statement on what it should cover:
Reposted by Tim Picton
🚨 With few new announcements in the Anti-Corruption Strategy aimed at boosting political #integrity in the UK, Spotlight's @kamilakingstone.bsky.social looks at what the government should have said – and explains what it needs to do to show decisive action that will restore public trust in politics.
The Anti-Corruption Strategy: where are the commitments on political integrity? - Spotlight on Corruption
The Anti-Corruption Strategy – containing 120 commitments, spanning everything from tackling professional enablers to facilitating asset recovery – is
www.spotlightcorruption.org
December 12, 2025 at 12:57 PM
🚨 With few new announcements in the Anti-Corruption Strategy aimed at boosting political #integrity in the UK, Spotlight's @kamilakingstone.bsky.social looks at what the government should have said – and explains what it needs to do to show decisive action that will restore public trust in politics.