Tim Picton
@timpicton.bsky.social
Anti-corruption advocacy for @spotlightcorruption.org. Views own or sometimes heavily plagiarised.
Reposted by Tim Picton
‘Politicians actually taking action’: six world mayors defying climate-sceptic populist leaders
‘Politicians actually taking action’: six world mayors defying climate-sceptic populist leaders
From Sierra Leone to Milan, cities are crafting their own rules and innovations in the face of rising temperatures
www.theguardian.com
November 7, 2025 at 11:31 AM
‘Politicians actually taking action’: six world mayors defying climate-sceptic populist leaders
Reposted by Tim Picton
🚨 👍 🧵 1/ As our friends at the @ukanticorruptioncoalition.org say, the forthcoming #AutumnBudget could bring in more revenue if we provided more support for HMRC and our enforcement agencies.
We wrote about this in a major report earlier this year:
anticorruption-responsibletax.org/cleanfoundat...
We wrote about this in a major report earlier this year:
anticorruption-responsibletax.org/cleanfoundat...
November 7, 2025 at 12:33 PM
🚨 👍 🧵 1/ As our friends at the @ukanticorruptioncoalition.org say, the forthcoming #AutumnBudget could bring in more revenue if we provided more support for HMRC and our enforcement agencies.
We wrote about this in a major report earlier this year:
anticorruption-responsibletax.org/cleanfoundat...
We wrote about this in a major report earlier this year:
anticorruption-responsibletax.org/cleanfoundat...
Reposted by Tim Picton
I spent a really long time amassing everything you need to know about Labour's vast deals with fossil gas-loving, Trump-donating AI giants out to pepper the world with climate-wrecking data centres...so you don't have to!
My reporting for @desmog.com 📖👇
My reporting for @desmog.com 📖👇
The sheer scale of Labour's deals with Trump-donating Big Tech firms has been seriously under-reported.
Not only are they being allowed to build climate-wrecking data centres, they've also been given permission to embed their tech within Whitehall, the NHS, and defence 👇👇
📝 @rtakver.bsky.social
Not only are they being allowed to build climate-wrecking data centres, they've also been given permission to embed their tech within Whitehall, the NHS, and defence 👇👇
📝 @rtakver.bsky.social
Labour’s Big Tech Love Affair Could Blow Up Its Climate Promises
When U.S. President Donald Trump landed for what he called the “exquisite honour” of an unprecedented second state visit to the UK this September, he brought along a retinue of his favourite Silicon V...
www.desmog.com
November 4, 2025 at 1:03 PM
I spent a really long time amassing everything you need to know about Labour's vast deals with fossil gas-loving, Trump-donating AI giants out to pepper the world with climate-wrecking data centres...so you don't have to!
My reporting for @desmog.com 📖👇
My reporting for @desmog.com 📖👇
Reposted by Tim Picton
🚨 Dominic Cummings Lobbied Officials to Hand ‘Test and Trace’ Contracts to Palantir After Secret Meeting With Peter Thiel
+ New emails released to Byline reveal Cummings involvement in VIP Lane deals.
Read my latest @bylinetimes.bsky.social report here: bylinetimes.com/2025/10/31/d...
+ New emails released to Byline reveal Cummings involvement in VIP Lane deals.
Read my latest @bylinetimes.bsky.social report here: bylinetimes.com/2025/10/31/d...
Dominic Cummings Lobbied Officials to Hand 'Test and Trace' Contracts to Palantir After Secret Meeting With Peter Thiel
Exclusive: Boris Johnson's senior advisor pushed for Covid contracts to be handed to companies run by Trump-supporting tech billionaires Peter Thiel and Larry Ellison
bylinetimes.com
October 31, 2025 at 9:55 AM
🚨 Dominic Cummings Lobbied Officials to Hand ‘Test and Trace’ Contracts to Palantir After Secret Meeting With Peter Thiel
+ New emails released to Byline reveal Cummings involvement in VIP Lane deals.
Read my latest @bylinetimes.bsky.social report here: bylinetimes.com/2025/10/31/d...
+ New emails released to Byline reveal Cummings involvement in VIP Lane deals.
Read my latest @bylinetimes.bsky.social report here: bylinetimes.com/2025/10/31/d...
Reposted by Tim Picton
🚨Two years+ after @GoodLawProject revealed Luxe Lifestyle were on PPE Vip Lane thanks to the help of a former minister, the government finally corrects the record.
But, as I detail in my book Viplanebook.com this is still the tip of the iceberg.
It’s likely that 70 firms were on VIP Lane not 52
🧵
But, as I detail in my book Viplanebook.com this is still the tip of the iceberg.
It’s likely that 70 firms were on VIP Lane not 52
🧵
October 31, 2025 at 12:42 PM
🚨Two years+ after @GoodLawProject revealed Luxe Lifestyle were on PPE Vip Lane thanks to the help of a former minister, the government finally corrects the record.
But, as I detail in my book Viplanebook.com this is still the tip of the iceberg.
It’s likely that 70 firms were on VIP Lane not 52
🧵
But, as I detail in my book Viplanebook.com this is still the tip of the iceberg.
It’s likely that 70 firms were on VIP Lane not 52
🧵
Reposted by Tim Picton
Disabled children are having to wait for nearly four months to receive benefit payments due to government delays, with hardly any applications being processed on time according to the latest figures.
By me, for the Big Issue: www.bigissue.com/news/social-...
By me, for the Big Issue: www.bigissue.com/news/social-...
Disabled children left waiting months for benefits due to DWP delays
Single mother Maryam had to wait three months to get child disability allowance for her seven-year-old daughter, who has kidney cancer.
www.bigissue.com
October 30, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Disabled children are having to wait for nearly four months to receive benefit payments due to government delays, with hardly any applications being processed on time according to the latest figures.
By me, for the Big Issue: www.bigissue.com/news/social-...
By me, for the Big Issue: www.bigissue.com/news/social-...
Reposted by Tim Picton
Autonomy Institute: "A new report calls for a ban on political donors being considered for public contracts after finding 373 companies made a total of over £60 billion following their donations."
29 firms donated £11m+ to the Tories & were then awarded contracts worth £2.3 billion from 2015-2024
29 firms donated £11m+ to the Tories & were then awarded contracts worth £2.3 billion from 2015-2024
October 27, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Autonomy Institute: "A new report calls for a ban on political donors being considered for public contracts after finding 373 companies made a total of over £60 billion following their donations."
29 firms donated £11m+ to the Tories & were then awarded contracts worth £2.3 billion from 2015-2024
29 firms donated £11m+ to the Tories & were then awarded contracts worth £2.3 billion from 2015-2024
Reposted by Tim Picton
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...
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
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...
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Reposted by Tim Picton
The UK's first #cryptocurrency donation to a political party raises questions on traceability, foreign influence & regulation
@timpicton.bsky.social of @spotlightcorruption.org explores options - regulate or ban crypto?
Read the blog 👇
www.radixbigtent.org.uk/news-comment... #ElectionsBill
@timpicton.bsky.social of @spotlightcorruption.org explores options - regulate or ban crypto?
Read the blog 👇
www.radixbigtent.org.uk/news-comment... #ElectionsBill
Crypto donations: how to tackle the new dark money threat
www.radixbigtent.org.uk
October 23, 2025 at 2:03 PM
The UK's first #cryptocurrency donation to a political party raises questions on traceability, foreign influence & regulation
@timpicton.bsky.social of @spotlightcorruption.org explores options - regulate or ban crypto?
Read the blog 👇
www.radixbigtent.org.uk/news-comment... #ElectionsBill
@timpicton.bsky.social of @spotlightcorruption.org explores options - regulate or ban crypto?
Read the blog 👇
www.radixbigtent.org.uk/news-comment... #ElectionsBill
Reposted by Tim Picton
An excellent article in the @financialtimes.com this week from @cfs-rusi.bsky.social's Eliza Lockhart on the outdated approach to crypto-assets in UK politics.
📰✒️
ft.com/content/c01c...
#Crypto #Politics #Corruption
📰✒️
ft.com/content/c01c...
#Crypto #Politics #Corruption
Politics should not apply cash-era laws to crypto donations
The UK government’s elections bill risks importing analogue assumptions into a digital threat landscape
ft.com
October 23, 2025 at 1:00 PM
An excellent article in the @financialtimes.com this week from @cfs-rusi.bsky.social's Eliza Lockhart on the outdated approach to crypto-assets in UK politics.
📰✒️
ft.com/content/c01c...
#Crypto #Politics #Corruption
📰✒️
ft.com/content/c01c...
#Crypto #Politics #Corruption
Reposted by Tim Picton
Great to see @russellscott1.bsky.social shortlisted for a British journalism award for his brilliant @bylinetimes.bsky.social investigations into the VIP lane PPE scandal pressgazette.co.uk/press-gazett...
October 23, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Great to see @russellscott1.bsky.social shortlisted for a British journalism award for his brilliant @bylinetimes.bsky.social investigations into the VIP lane PPE scandal pressgazette.co.uk/press-gazett...
Reposted by Tim Picton
🔴Michael Gove Lobbied Government Officials to Hand Conservative Donor Multimillion Pound Covid Contract
Private correspondence seen by Byline Times reveals that Ciga Healthcare’s Brexit-supporting owner had pushed Gove to “take control” of the process
bylinetimes.com/2025/10/23/m...
Private correspondence seen by Byline Times reveals that Ciga Healthcare’s Brexit-supporting owner had pushed Gove to “take control” of the process
bylinetimes.com/2025/10/23/m...
Michael Gove Lobbied Government Officials to Hand Conservative Donor Multimillion Pound Covid Contract
Private correspondence seen by Byline Times reveals that Ciga Healthcare's Brexit-supporting owner had pushed Gove to "take control" of the process
bylinetimes.com
October 23, 2025 at 9:59 AM
🔴Michael Gove Lobbied Government Officials to Hand Conservative Donor Multimillion Pound Covid Contract
Private correspondence seen by Byline Times reveals that Ciga Healthcare’s Brexit-supporting owner had pushed Gove to “take control” of the process
bylinetimes.com/2025/10/23/m...
Private correspondence seen by Byline Times reveals that Ciga Healthcare’s Brexit-supporting owner had pushed Gove to “take control” of the process
bylinetimes.com/2025/10/23/m...
Reposted by Tim Picton
I think this is the weirdest story I've ever reported. www.londoncentric.media/p/terry-ball...
The snail farmer of London, his mafia friends, and a £20m vendetta against the taxman
Terry Ball runs elaborate mollusc-based tax avoidance schemes that are costing London councils millions of pounds. Yet when London Centric tracks him down, an even stranger story emerges.
www.londoncentric.media
October 18, 2025 at 6:00 AM
I think this is the weirdest story I've ever reported. www.londoncentric.media/p/terry-ball...
Reposted by Tim Picton
FT Investigation: At least 30 individuals or companies that have collectively donated more than $116mn to Donald Trump’s causes have received benefits or advantages from White House moves.
Read more here: on.ft.com/497fook
Read more here: on.ft.com/497fook
October 17, 2025 at 7:30 AM
FT Investigation: At least 30 individuals or companies that have collectively donated more than $116mn to Donald Trump’s causes have received benefits or advantages from White House moves.
Read more here: on.ft.com/497fook
Read more here: on.ft.com/497fook
Reposted by Tim Picton
💥The first crypto donation to a UK political party has been made – but what should happen next?
@timpicton.bsky.social sets out what guidance the @electoralcommission.org.uk could issue right now, and takes a look at how the forthcoming #ElectionsBill could deal with potential future risks.
@timpicton.bsky.social sets out what guidance the @electoralcommission.org.uk could issue right now, and takes a look at how the forthcoming #ElectionsBill could deal with potential future risks.
Crypto donations: how to tackle the new dark money threat - Spotlight on Corruption
The first-ever crypto donation to a UK political party has now been made, according to recent media reports. We don’t yet know the source or value of the
www.spotlightcorruption.org
October 16, 2025 at 11:51 AM
💥The first crypto donation to a UK political party has been made – but what should happen next?
@timpicton.bsky.social sets out what guidance the @electoralcommission.org.uk could issue right now, and takes a look at how the forthcoming #ElectionsBill could deal with potential future risks.
@timpicton.bsky.social sets out what guidance the @electoralcommission.org.uk could issue right now, and takes a look at how the forthcoming #ElectionsBill could deal with potential future risks.
Reposted by Tim Picton
👏 Really welcome to see these coordinated UK-US sanctions aimed at taking down a crypto investment scam in South East Asia, targeting BVI companies which invested in UK property including a £12m mansion in North London, a £100m office building in the City of London, and 17 flats around London.
UK and US take joint action to disrupt major online fraud network
Alongside the US Government, the UK has today sanctioned a network that operates illegal scam centres across Southeast Asia.
www.gov.uk
October 14, 2025 at 3:08 PM
👏 Really welcome to see these coordinated UK-US sanctions aimed at taking down a crypto investment scam in South East Asia, targeting BVI companies which invested in UK property including a £12m mansion in North London, a £100m office building in the City of London, and 17 flats around London.
Reposted by Tim Picton
Help @bylinetimes.bsky.social step things up a level. We’re raising £20k to build a new special investigations team led by Nafeez Ahmed
subscribe.bylinetimes.com/nostoneuntur...
subscribe.bylinetimes.com/nostoneuntur...
#NoStoneUnturned – Byline Times Shop
#NoStoneUnturned Help Byline Times go where others dare to tread. We’re raising £20k to build a new special investigations team led by Nafeez Ahmed. Byline Times is asking for your support to advance ...
subscribe.bylinetimes.com
October 14, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Help @bylinetimes.bsky.social step things up a level. We’re raising £20k to build a new special investigations team led by Nafeez Ahmed
subscribe.bylinetimes.com/nostoneuntur...
subscribe.bylinetimes.com/nostoneuntur...
Reposted by Tim Picton
NEW: How a U.S. anti-abortion group has quietly positioned itself as a powerbroker between the Trump administration and Nigel Farage’s Reform UK.
Latest investigation w Elizabeth Dias.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/13/w...
Latest investigation w Elizabeth Dias.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/13/w...
They Helped Topple Roe v. Wade. Now Their Sights Are Set on Britain.
www.nytimes.com
October 13, 2025 at 6:10 AM
NEW: How a U.S. anti-abortion group has quietly positioned itself as a powerbroker between the Trump administration and Nigel Farage’s Reform UK.
Latest investigation w Elizabeth Dias.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/13/w...
Latest investigation w Elizabeth Dias.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/13/w...
Reposted by Tim Picton
Exc: The Electoral Commission has been given early notice of the UK's first ever crypto donation
The has been "made, but not declared", to a party understood to be Reform
Reform spox said: "All donations above the reporting limit will be disclosed in the usual way"
share.google/VvtjBjEjEjRa...
The has been "made, but not declared", to a party understood to be Reform
Reform spox said: "All donations above the reporting limit will be disclosed in the usual way"
share.google/VvtjBjEjEjRa...
Calls for transparency on political funding after first c...
Electoral Commission notified of financial contribution, which is rumoured to have been handed to Reform UK
share.google
October 11, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Exc: The Electoral Commission has been given early notice of the UK's first ever crypto donation
The has been "made, but not declared", to a party understood to be Reform
Reform spox said: "All donations above the reporting limit will be disclosed in the usual way"
share.google/VvtjBjEjEjRa...
The has been "made, but not declared", to a party understood to be Reform
Reform spox said: "All donations above the reporting limit will be disclosed in the usual way"
share.google/VvtjBjEjEjRa...
Reposted by Tim Picton
The £1m man: Why did Boris Johnson take his donor to Ukraine?
The £1m man: Why did Boris Johnson take his donor to Ukraine?
Exclusive: Leaked files offer a glimpse of the ex-prime minister’s relationship with Christopher Harborne
As he boarded the night train to Ukraine, Boris Johnson had the usual entourage of aides and bodyguards – plus the man who had given him £1m.
Less than a year had passed since Johnson accepted what is thought to be the largest donation ever to an individual MP. It was from Christopher Harborne, one of the UK’s biggest and most private political donors. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
October 10, 2025 at 12:17 PM
The £1m man: Why did Boris Johnson take his donor to Ukraine?
Reposted by Tim Picton
That’s a wrap on conference season!
With David Lammy confirming next year’s Illicit Finance Summit, and opportunities to shape the forthcoming Elections Bill, there’s real momentum to make progress in the year ahead.
Full roundup here ⬇️
anticorruption-responsibletax.org/news/2025-co...
With David Lammy confirming next year’s Illicit Finance Summit, and opportunities to shape the forthcoming Elections Bill, there’s real momentum to make progress in the year ahead.
Full roundup here ⬇️
anticorruption-responsibletax.org/news/2025-co...
From dirty money to clean politics: our takeaways from conference season — APPG on Anti-Corruption and Responsible Tax
During conference season this year, anti-corruption was firmly on the agenda. With the Illicit Finance Summit ahead, an anti-corruption strategy due, and reforms in the Elections Bill, there are real ...
anticorruption-responsibletax.org
October 9, 2025 at 1:18 PM
That’s a wrap on conference season!
With David Lammy confirming next year’s Illicit Finance Summit, and opportunities to shape the forthcoming Elections Bill, there’s real momentum to make progress in the year ahead.
Full roundup here ⬇️
anticorruption-responsibletax.org/news/2025-co...
With David Lammy confirming next year’s Illicit Finance Summit, and opportunities to shape the forthcoming Elections Bill, there’s real momentum to make progress in the year ahead.
Full roundup here ⬇️
anticorruption-responsibletax.org/news/2025-co...
Reposted by Tim Picton
Some of London’s poorest areas could see their share of the children’s services funding formula halved under Labour’s plans to reform local government grants.
By me, for Politics Home: www.politicshome.com/news/article...
By me, for Politics Home: www.politicshome.com/news/article...
London Councils Face Losing Half Their Share Of Children's Services Funding
Some of London’s poorest areas could see their share of funding for children’s services halved under Labour’s plans to reform local government gran...
www.politicshome.com
October 7, 2025 at 11:10 AM
Some of London’s poorest areas could see their share of the children’s services funding formula halved under Labour’s plans to reform local government grants.
By me, for Politics Home: www.politicshome.com/news/article...
By me, for Politics Home: www.politicshome.com/news/article...
Reposted by Tim Picton
The previous government spent £billions storing and incinerating unused PPE.
The same VIP’s that supplied unusable PPE made a killing storing and destroying it.
To date 1million pallets have gone up in smoke costing the taxpayer £8.6billion
🎥ITV: The Covid Contracts
The same VIP’s that supplied unusable PPE made a killing storing and destroying it.
To date 1million pallets have gone up in smoke costing the taxpayer £8.6billion
🎥ITV: The Covid Contracts
October 6, 2025 at 6:56 PM
The previous government spent £billions storing and incinerating unused PPE.
The same VIP’s that supplied unusable PPE made a killing storing and destroying it.
To date 1million pallets have gone up in smoke costing the taxpayer £8.6billion
🎥ITV: The Covid Contracts
The same VIP’s that supplied unusable PPE made a killing storing and destroying it.
To date 1million pallets have gone up in smoke costing the taxpayer £8.6billion
🎥ITV: The Covid Contracts
Another v. important investigation by the Guardian, no doubt a lot more to come…
October 6, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Another v. important investigation by the Guardian, no doubt a lot more to come…