Britain's reputation for integrity has been severely damaged by a series of scandals, and the problem of corruption is now a domestic crisis hurting communities and businesses, a leading Labour MP has warned.
From global campaigns to a domestic fight
Joe Powell, a Labour MP elected in 2024, spent over a decade campaigning against corruption internationally in countries like Ukraine and Nigeria. He now argues the UK can no longer ignore its own significant issues, having slid to a record low position on the international corruption league table.
In recent years, our reputation has taken multiple hits, Powell writes, pointing to the COVID contract 'VIP lane' that channelled funds to Conservative donors, lobbying scandals involving former Prime Minister David Cameron, and Reform UK's acceptance of anonymous cryptocurrency donations.
The case of Baroness Michelle Mone and the PPE Medpro firm, which was sued by the government over pandemic contracts, is a prominent example. However, Powell stresses this is not an isolated incident. "If only Baroness Mone and PPE Medpro’s fleecing of the taxpayer was a one-off," he states.
Corruption 'hiding in plain sight' on UK high streets
The MP warns that corrupt practices are visibly damaging local economies. Tax evasion and money laundering are fuelling the proliferation of 'dodgy shops' across the country, undermining legitimate businesses that pay taxes and fair wages.
In his own constituency, Powell highlights streets filled with anonymous, foreign-owned properties that act as safe deposit boxes for global kleptocrats. These often sit empty, exacerbating the housing crisis and draining life from communities.
He welcomed Chancellor Rachel Reeves's budget support for crime-fighting agencies to tackle illicit high street activity, including pursuing company directors who vanish when their tax bill arrives.
A blueprint to clean up 'dirty money capital'
Powell argues the government must now implement an ambitious plan to transform London from the "dirty money capital of the world to the anti-corruption capital of the world."
Key steps he supports include:
- Sweeping Treasury reforms to money laundering regulations, targeting accountants and lawyers who handle illicit cash.
- Closing the well-trodden route of stashing dirty money in British Overseas Territories like the British Virgin Islands.
- Ensuring the UK's global summit on illicit finance, announced by Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy for next year, makes cleaning up these territories a top priority.
Corruption is not an abstract problem, Powell concludes. It concretely harms high streets, squanders public money, and erodes trust in politics. He asserts the Labour government is right to intensify its crackdown on these pervasive issues.
