Mass US/UK corruption over HSBC explains Trump's/populists' rise
The extraordinary complicity of the UK and US authorities in HSBC's Iran sanction busting, and money laundering for Mexican and Colombian drug cartels explains why people are turning to Trump and similar populists across the democratic world
- 12 July 2016
The venal corruption of the political class
Corruption runs riot in the political classes in the U.S. (and Britain and the wider West too). They think it's normal, and that they'll get away with it. So far they have every reason to be confident. So far... But the more people know, the more it will change
- 13 May 2015
Italy can defeat corruption
It was back in 2010 that we learned that the city of Milan had held off competition from Izmir, Turkey, to hold the 2015 Expo, essentially the World’s Fair. Naturally, such an event involves some fairly attractive building contracts. You can guess the rest
- 9 June 2014
Reprising state corruption: Jailing of Denis MacShane
In an extraordinarily prescient, previous article, former ambassador Charles Crawford examined the MacShane case and explained the ins and outs of corruption in the state, with some illuminating examples of how things can go badly wrong. This also contains an update with Monday's jailing of Denis MacShane for expenses fraud
- 23 December 2013
Wealthy politicians: what's not to like?
A wealthy MP can be one of that almost-extinct species, the conviction politician. They are not members of the ‘payroll’ vote, and don’t have to grovel to the Whips
- 12 November 2013
Corruption in Italy: are things changing?
It is possible that with the passing of the post war generation who looked on corruption as cunning rather than morally wrong, Italy may begin to maximise its potential without the millstone of corruption holding it back
- 11 November 2013
Facebook 'censors' Palestinian writer posting anti-corruption articles
Khaled Abu Toameh has had his Facebook account suspended after a flurry of threats, seemingly simply for posting anti-corruption articles implicating the Palestinian Authority
- 15 January 2013
Denis MacShane: the dark side of public money
Once a country's main media outlets cosy up to their favourite ruling elite, the whole process has nothing to do with democracy any more
- 8 November 2012
Quelle Horrreur! French officials open to bribery
According to the OECD, France lacks the both the means and the will to properly tackle corporate bribery of foreign officials
- 24 October 2012
Britain considered a soft power superpower?
Britain is ranked among the soft superpowers in the 21st century for its ‘respect for human rights’ and ‘democratic’ governance, according to latest politics YouGov poll.
- 16 October 2012
Why did Mercedes Benz fire an anti-Chavez political activist?
Federico Medina Ravell has been fired from his job with Mercedes Benz over private political activism
- 21 April 2012
For Sale: One political party leader, barely used with hypocrisy included as standard... £5001 O.N.O
Ed Miliband's £5000 donation cap is a stark admission of being corruptible 'for less than the price of a second hand Vauxhall Corsa'
- 16 April 2012
What's holding the Third-World back? It’s the corruption, stupid.
Getting oil production back online, overcoming ethnic and inter-tribal rivalries, and safeguarding territorial integrity are all challenges ahead for Libya. But none are as big as the challenge to overcome corruption.
- 1 November 2011
Family values and the Strasbourg Court: time to repatriate the 1948 Convention to Britain
It is time to repatriate the 1948 Convention to Britain so as to end the practice of maximising the rights of individuals and groups who have shown by their conduct that they hardly deserve such latitude.
- 21 October 2011
November elections in the DRC matter: to its citizens, to European taxpayers, and to democracy in Africa.
Nirj Deva MEP argues that the only way to enhance political stability in the DRC is through a transparent, open, and fair election conducted on a level playing field. This is what we hope for, and indeed what we must insist on.
- 21 October 2011
Latest on the blog
We are wholly dependent on the kindness of our readers for our continued work. We thank you in advance for any support you can offer.
