(October 28, 2007) Sir John Bourn, chief investigator of Britain’s public spending body, the National Audit Office, has himself come under public scrutiny for allegations of lavish spending, paid for by the public purse.
Keep off the graft
(February 12, 2007) British Prime Minister Tony Blair released a much anticipated Commission for Africa report which called on the developed world to help Africa curb corruption by cleaning up its own act (The Guardian). The report signalled a new and hopeful direction for the Blair administration’s advance on the scourge of global graft. Blair talked about changing U.K. banking laws to speed up the return of public funds pocketed by corrupt African leaders. His government also issued new anti-corruption rules aimed at cracking down on kickbacks paid by U.K. exporters to win contracts overseas; href=”http://www.ft.com”Financial Times”
Anti-corruption efforts
(February 7, 2007) Companies need the incentive of prosecution, fines and reputational risk to tackle bribery more effectively. The abandoning of a probe into BAE Systems’ dealings in Saudi Arabia shows a lack of will to deal with these issues, says Alexandra Wrage.
Protest letter to Prime Minister Tony Blair concerning BAE Systems Plc
(January 15, 2007) International charities, churches and NGOs petition Prime Minister Blair to reopen a corruption probe into a controversial arms deal with Saudi Arabia.
U.K. urged not to accept debt repayment
(December 7, 2005) G-7 will receive more than it will provide to poor countries in a decade.
Treasury plans bailout for £9bn of export bad debts
(December 10, 2003) The Treasury is drawing up a face-saving plan to rescue the Export Credit Guarantees Department, after the government agency, which insures British exporters, ran up bad debts of £9 billion
Millions risked on BAE contract
(November 27, 2003) Taxpayers’ money used to underwrite massive arms deal with shaky Saudi government.
Healing Africa’s scar; Mr. Blair is to be commended on his ambitious goals
(February 7, 2002) The latest research shows that the rich nations of Europe and North America, numbering some 50 million people, have the same income as the 2.7 billion poor people in the rest of the world.
Britain’s long backhander game
(November 27, 2001) Ministers have tabled a bill allowing prosecution of firms that use bribes to win export orders. Why has it taken years?
Ban demanded on overseas bribes
(April 4, 2001) Britain’s failure to introduce clear legislation to outlaw bribery and corruption in international business was castigated yesterday by a committee of MPs as a “shameful situation” that damaged the reputation of the City of London and the country abroad.
Corruption in the third world is our problem
(December 13, 2000) Britain is slow to punish businessmen who offer bribes abroad.
UK’s role in promoting corruption, cronyism and graft
(October 23, 2000) The UK Select Committee on International Development is currently holding an inquiry into the causes of corruption and the role of governmental agencies, multilateral development banks and the private sector in promoting it.
Third world debt may soon lose the spotlight
(October 4, 2000) Campaigners vow to keep on fighting after Jubilee 2000 shuts shop.
MPs attack export credit proposal for Turkish dam
(July 13, 2000) MPs yesterday launched a devastating attack on the Foreign Office and Department of Trade and Industry over provisional plans to use export credit guarantees to support a controversial Turkish dam project.
FBI raids British firm’s offices
(June 22, 2000) Balfour Beatty – which also has a contract for the controversial Ilusi dam in Turkey and may face prosecution in Lesotho over alleged corruption payments over a dam project – was raided this month by 40 FBI agents.