Transparency Task Force

Andy Burnham can make his immediate mark on ethics in public life The Ethics and Integrity Commission has released its long-awaited report on lobbying rules and post-government jobs — originally commissioned by Keir Starmer before scandals including freebiegate and the Mandelson affair came to define his premiership. Now it's incoming PM Andy Burnham's turn to decide how to respond, with the Commission calling for major reforms to the rules governing standards in public life. Tim Durrant from the Institute for Government sets out why this is a real early test of Burnham's commitment to ethics in government. Read the full comment: instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/andy-b…

🗞️ ARTICLE: FOS APPOINTS CEO AND CHIEF OMBUDSMAN 👇 ftadviser.com/content/85c8de… Here’s some more media coverage about this topic: ●     FOS names permanent CEO and chief ombudsman 👇 professionaladviser.com/news/4533097/f…

📢 We've just issued this week's edition of the Transparency Times! Stay informed, stay ahead — sign up for our free weekly newsletter and get the stories that matter straight to your inbox. 👉 transparencytaskforce.org/transparency-t…

🗞️ City of London Corporation: calls grow for reform of the medieval body 👇 ftadviser.com/content/356766… @MoorgateMermaid @FTAdviser

🗞️ Here’s some recent articles by FinCrime Central Founder, Fred Kahn: ● Organised gang money laundering investigation involves international football player 👇 fincrimecentral.com/international-… ● Former Epoch CFO faces ten year prison term and 67 million dollar penalty 👇 fincrimecentral.com/former-epoch-c… ● Bank employee faces jail time for stealing banks and laundering with others 👇 fincrimecentral.com/bank-employee-… ● FINTRAC fines Atlantic Lottery Corporation Inc. $212K for compliance gaps You can access all articles here 👇 fincrimecentral.com/fintrac-fines-…

📖 TTF’S book of the week: "Shorting Fraud: How to uncover and profit from fraudulent companies" by Jesper Sorenson Trillions of dollars are lost annually due to corporate fraud, a growing global problem. For savvy professional investors, however, this crisis presents an opportunity. This book is the first to comprehensively explore a systematic and updated approach to identify, analyze, and profit from publicly listed companies allegedly engaged in fraudulent activities. Drawing on hands-on experience successfully uncovering corporate fraud, the author provides practical insights and guidelines supported by academic research and real-world examples. The readers will gain a deep understanding of the fraud investment process, get the building blocks to build their own framework, and develop essential tools with the end goal of executing a profitable investment strategy based on corporate fraud knowledge. You can purchase the book on Amazon here 👇 amazon.co.uk/Shorting-Fraud…

🗳️ OVER 1,300 PEOPLE HAVE HAD THEIR SAY — HAVE YOU? An important project led by Green Party peer Natalie Bennett, on behalf of the APPG on Investment Fraud and Fairer Financial Services, is examining whether the City of London Corporation should be left as is, reformed, or abolished. Why does this matter? The Corporation wields significant influence over financial services regulation and legislation — including through the role of the City Remembrancer. ❓ The key question: Does that influence serve the public interest, or primarily the banks and institutions that dominate the City? Your voice matters. The survey is anonymous — no names or email addresses published. 👉 Have your say here: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAI…

📢 Financial Services Regulation Committee: Consumer Insurance Market On Wednesday 15th July, the Committee heard oral evidence on the regulation of the consumer insurance market. 🎙️ Witnesses included: Mark Bailie, CEO, Compare the Market Steve Dukes, CEO, Confused.com Peter Duffy, CEO, MONY Group PLC Johnny Timpson, Member, FCA Financial Services Consumer Panel 📺 Catch up on the full session via Parliament TV: parliamentlive.tv/event/index/f0…

📊 Last week in the Treasury Committee Two big oral evidence sessions on the financial sector last week: 🏦 Bank of England Financial Stability Report (Tue 14 July) Governor Andrew Bailey and fellow Financial Policy Committee members faced questions from the Treasury Committee on the UK's financial stability outlook. 👥 Witnesses: Andrew Bailey (Governor), Nathanaël Benjamin (Exec Director, Financial Stability), Stephen Blyth & Randall Kroszner (external FPC members) 📄 Transcript: committees.parliament.uk/oralevidence/1… 🔗 Meeting page: committees.parliament.uk/event/27857/fo… 💳 FCA oral evidence session (Wed 15 July) The FCA was in the hot seat on consumer issues — including Buy Now Pay Later regulation and the Motor Finance Redress Scheme. 👥 Witnesses: Nikhil Rathi (Chief Executive), Ashley Alder (Chair), Sarah Pritchard (Deputy Chief Executive) 📺 Watch on catch-up: parliamentlive.tv/event/index/af… 🔗 Meeting page: committees.parliament.uk/event/27858/fo…

🗞️ The Parliament Politics Magazine: Issue #56 Your essential look at Westminster, Whitehall and beyond — politics, policy and the stories shaping the UK, straight from the people closest to it. You can access the online magazine here 👇 parliamentnews.co.uk/magazine/the-p… Many thanks to Parliament News Chief Editor, Alistair Thompson, for bringing this to our attention.

🚨 The Hillsborough Law has passed the Commons. MPs unanimously backed the Public Office (Accountability) Bill at its third reading — creating a legal duty of candour for public officials and authorities during inquiries and investigations. It's taken since 2017, when the bill was first drafted by lawyers who represented Hillsborough families, to get here. The road included a stalled January debate over how the law would apply to the security services, before an amended version cleared the Commons this month. The bill now heads to the House of Lords, then Royal Assent — with hopes it could become law ahead of the disaster's 38th anniversary next April. A long-fought win for the 97, and for every family failed by institutional cover-ups since. 🔗 Read more: bbc.co.uk/news/articles/… 🗣️ See Ian Byrne MP's post: x.com/IanByrneMP/sta… 📖 Background on the law: huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/what-is-…

📢 Just one more day to go! Don't miss this important FREE online Transparency Task Force event: "The Simon Andriesz Story; and the Role of the Financial Conduct Authority" 📅 Tuesday, 21 July 2026 🕔 5:00-7:00 pm BST 💻 Zoom This event couldn't be more timely. It takes place just a week after Parliament moved forward with the Hillsborough Law, with its proposed Duty of Candour aimed at tackling what supporters have described as a "culture of cover-up" in public institutions. The discussion will consider whether those same principles should apply to the protection of whistleblowers and the accountability of financial regulators. Alongside Simon, we'll also hear from @Carlier_J87, @stevemiddi1, @BankConfidenti1 and other speakers, who will share their own experiences of speaking up and why many believe the UK's whistleblower protection framework needs reform. Click here to book your place 👇 transparencytaskforce.org/the-simon-andr…

📢UPCOMING EVENT: "The Simon Andriesz Story; and the Role of the Financial Conduct Authority" 📅 Tuesday, 21 July 2026 🕔 5:00pm-7:00 pm BST 💻 Live on Zoom 🎟️ Free to attend Following the BBC File on 4 Investigates programme "Epstein Files: Lutnick, the Royals and the British Whistleblower", Simon Andriesz will speak publicly about his case for the first time at this free Transparency Task Force online event. After a 35-year career in the securities industry, Simon says he reported what he believed to be serious financial misconduct to the FBI and UK regulators. He alleges that, instead of being protected from retaliation, he and his family suffered devastating personal, professional and financial consequences, and that the UK's Financial Conduct Authority failed to fulfil its legal duty to protect him. This event will examine: 🔹 Simon's extraordinary story, in his own words 🔹 The legal duties of the FCA to protect whistleblowers from retaliation 🔹 Evidence presented regarding the FCA's handling of Mr Andriesz's case 🔹 What can be learned from the different approaches taken in the UK and the US 🔹 Why many believe the UK's whistleblowing framework requires fundamental reform You'll also hear from other whistleblowers, who will share their own experiences of speaking up and the challenges they have faced. Whether you're a whistleblower, regulator, compliance professional, lawyer, policymaker, parliamentarian, journalist, academic, consumer advocate, or simply someone who cares about transparency and accountability, this promises to be a fascinating and important discussion. 👉 Register now: transparencytaskforce.org/the-simon-andr…

📢 We've just issued this week's edition of the Transparency Times! Stay informed, stay ahead — sign up for our free weekly newsletter and get the stories that matter straight to your inbox. 👉 transparencytaskforce.org/transparency-t…

🖊️ EARLY DAY MOTION: HARTLEY PENSIONS AND FCA ENFORCEMENT ACTION Here’s a snippet from the webpage: “That this House notes with great concern the slow administration of Hartley Pensions Ltd; notes that this is causing considerable financial stress and hardship for the many pension holders who are still waiting for the transfer of their pension; further notes that administrators UHY Hacker Young have successfully applied for an extension three times, with administration now set to run until July 2027, and that further extensions are possible; notes the FCA's warning notices alleging that Hartley improperly put its interests above those of pension holders, provided false and misleading information to the regulator, and withdrew substantial amounts of customers' pension funds without their consent and for an individual's own financial benefit; further notes that as of October 2025 only 2,636 of 6,000 clients contacted had been transferred to another provider; and calls on the Government to work with the Financial Conduct Authority to conclude enforcement proceedings swiftly, accelerate the transfer of remaining pension holders, and review the regulatory framework for self-invested personal pension operators to prevent a recurrence of such harm.” You can access full details here 👇 edm.parliament.uk/early-day-moti… We encourage everyone to contact their MP and ask them to sign the Early Day Motion. Here’s an article about this topic by Senior Editor for the FT Adviser, Simoney Kyriakou @MoorgateMermaid ●     Hartley Pensions campaign group calls on advisers to lobby their MPs 👇 ftadviser.com/content/43b69f…

There was a special event held in Parliament on Tuesday 6th July that was all about the insolvency profession, and the need to reform it. Many believe that there are serious shortcomings in the conduct of some members of the insolvency profession. This event showed why. The event was led by Lord Prem Sikka, and was entitled: “Insolvent Abuse: Regulating the Insolvency Industry” Speakers and attendees explained how insolvency and bankruptcy can be a highly traumatic experience for individuals, workers, creditors, investors, and local communities; and how the difficulties can be compounded by poor regulation and the general lack of accountability of insolvency practitioners. The panelists were: -       Steve Middleton, of Bank Confidential -       Jeremy Giles, Founder and Partner, Jeremy Giles LLP -       Sonia Jordan, President of R3 -       John McDonnell MP, Labour MP for Hayes and Harlington and Chair of the APPG on Investment Fraud and Fairer Financial Services Sonia explained that during her twelve month tenure as President of R3 (the UK trade association for restructuring, turnaround and insolvency) she has three key priorities: (1) championing the role and impact of the insolvency profession on the UK economy (2) strengthening political engagement to support the modernisation of the insolvency framework (3) promoting a diverse, future-ready profession For those interested in the issues identified during the meeting, we urge you to study an excellent new report produced by Bank Confidential, entitled "The Weaponisation of Insolvency: A Tool to Silence the Victims of Banking Malpractice & Fraud?" It is available for you here 👇 transparencytaskforce.org/wp-content/upl… It is also noteworthy that John McDonnell MP (Chair of the APPG that TTF provides the secretariat for) contributed to the conversation - John spoke about the need for MPs to listen to the issues raised by their constituents who believe they have not been treated fairly by the insolvency sector, and to build consensus amongst all stakeholders that would be apre-requisite for introducing the reforms that are so clearly needed. Furthermore, if you have been adversely impacted by insolvency you are welcome to apply to join TTF’s group entitled “Fighting the Weaponisation of Insolvency” which meets weekly on Thursdays at 3:00PM, on Zoom. You can get to the application form here 👇 transparencytaskforce.org/wp-content/upl…

🖊️ Meridian Legal Services report: Against the odds - how to win at the Financial Ombudsman when the odds are stacked against you A hard-hitting new report from Gary W Smith, Founder and Legal Director of Meridian Legal Services, examines the gap between the Financial Ombudsman Service's public promise of free, fair redress and the reality facing consumers today. Drawing on twelve years of casework, parliamentary evidence, and University of Warwick research, the report tracks falling uphold rates, unpacks why so many complaints fail, and sets out what's changing under the government's 2025–26 reforms. It closes with practical guidance for consumers on building a complaint that beats the odds. You can read the full report here 👇 transparencytaskforce.org/wp-content/upl…

Ian Byrne has at last been called in the debate on the Hillsborough law and has given one of the finest speeches I have heard in the Commons in all the time I have been here. YNWA @IanByrneMP