Mike Gordon: A Statutory Basis for the Ministerial Code – the Challenges – UK Constitutional Law Association

‘With the UK in the midst of its latest political corruption crisis, the question of the (in)adequacy of the current infrastructure concerning standards in public life is once more in the spotlight. Immediately prior to the parliamentary farce over the Owen Paterson lobbying affair, the Committee on Standards in Public Life published a significant report, Upholding Standards in Public Life: Final Report of the Standards Matter 2 Review (November 2021), outlining a number of potential changes to the system for holding politicians to account for their conduct. This blog post focuses on one of the Committee’s recommendations: that the Ministerial Code be provided with a statutory basis through a ‘requirement for the Prime Minister to issue the Ministerial Code’ being ‘enshrined in primary legislation’ (Recommendation 4).’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 16th November 2021

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

Police will not investigate cash-for-peerages allegations against Tories – The Independent

‘The Metropolitan Police will not investigate allegations that Conservative donors were given peerages in return for gifts totalling £3m or more.’

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The Independent, 13th November 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Sarah Everard murder: Met to launch review of standards and internal culture – The Guardian

‘The Metropolitan police is launching a review of professional standards and internal culture within the force, led by a high-profile anti-sleaze adviser, following the rape and murder of Sarah Everard by a serving officer.’

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The Guardian, 4th October 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Stockwell Six: Fourth member of group to appeal against conviction – BBC News

‘A fourth member of the so-called Stockwell Six, who were “fitted up” by a corrupt police officer, is mounting an appeal against his conviction.’

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BBC News, 26th July 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Daniel Morgan case: Met accused of ‘betrayal’ over unsolved 1987 murder – BBC News

Posted July 22nd, 2021 in corruption, London, murder, news, police by sally

‘The Met Police has been accused of a “betrayal of the public” in its statements over the unsolved murder of private investigator Daniel Morgan.’

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BBC News, 21st July 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Three members of Stockwell Six cleared after nearly 50 years – The Guardian

‘Three innocent black men who were jailed nearly 50 years ago over a corrupt police officer’s claims they tried to rob him have had their convictions overturned by the court of appeal.’

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The Guardian, 6th July 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Oil firm led by Tory donor investigated over alleged bribes in nine countries – The Guardian

Posted June 21st, 2021 in bribery, corruption, energy, miners, news, political parties, Serious Fraud Office by tracey

‘A multinational oil firm which was led by a major Conservative donor has been under investigation for allegedly paying million-pound bribes to secure contracts in nine countries. The anti-corruption agency the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has been examining allegedly suspicious payments made by the UK-based firm Petrofac.’

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The Guardian, 20th June 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Daniel Morgan murder: Met chief censured for hampering corruption inquiry – The Guardian

Posted June 15th, 2021 in corruption, inquiries, murder, news, police, prosecutions, reports by sally

‘Cressida Dick, the commissioner of the Metropolitan police, has been personally censured for hampering an inquiry into police corruption in the long-running Daniel Morgan murder case.’

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The Guardian, 15th June 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Legal action launched over Boris Johnson award of peerage to Tory donor – The Independent

‘Anti-corruption campaign the Good Law Project has launched a legal action over the award of a peerage to Conservative party donor Peter Cruddas. Boris Johnson overruled advice last year from the House of Lords Appointments Committee against making the businessman a Lord – the first time the watchdog’s recommendation has been ignored.’

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The Independent, 13th June 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Daniel Morgan murder: panel refuses to hand over report – The Guardian

‘The independent panel investigating the Daniel Morgan scandal is refusing the home secretary’s demands to hand over its report before it can be published, as senior police sources say nothing in the case affects national security. Priti Patel provoked fury on Tuesday by demanding the findings be handed over for review prior to publication, angering both the Morgan family and members of the panel conducting the inquiry.’

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The Guardian, 19th May 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

Anger as Patel delays publication of report into private detective’s murder – The Guardian

‘The home secretary has ordered that an independent report on claims murderers were shielded by police corruption and claims of corruption in Rupert Murdoch’s media empire must be vetted by her department before its publication.’

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The Guardian, 18th May 2021

Source: www.theguardian.com

High Court orders urgent trial in claim by Liverpool mayor for indemnity against legal costs – Local Government Lawyer

Posted May 7th, 2021 in corruption, costs, indemnities, local government, news by sally

‘The High Court in Manchester has ordered that an urgent trial take place of the claim by Joe Anderson, the Mayor of Liverpool, that Liverpool City Council are acting unlawfully in refusing to provide him with the same indemnity against legal costs offered to other council members.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 6th May 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

‘Stockwell Six’: two men could have convictions overturned – The Guardian

‘Two men who were jailed nearly 50 years ago on the word of a corrupt detective could finally have their names cleared.
The cases of two members of the so-called “Stockwell Six”, who were accused of attempting to rob that officer on the underground, are now being referred to the court of appeal by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC).’

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The Guardian, 14th December 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Law Commission issues proposals for reforming offence of misconduct in public office – Local Government Lawyer

‘The “outdated and unclear” common law offence of misconduct in public office should be replaced by two new statutory offences of corruption in public office and breach of duty in public office, the Law Commission has said.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 7th December 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Stephen Lawrence murder: CPS asked to consider new charges against police – The Guardian

‘Prosecutors are to be asked to consider whether to bring new charges in the Stephen Lawrence case against senior police officers in the first botched murder investigation, it has been announced.’

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The Guardian, 3rd November 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Model Code of Conduct consultation – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Most councillors work with tireless dedication to provide, promote and lead best-quality and responsive local services in their areas. But for their pains they can often be subject to rude abuse. Even Samuel Pepys, writing on 17 March 1662, recorded his Lord Mayor as “a talking, bragging Bufflehead” (blockhead) and was “confident there is no man almost in the City cares a turd for him”. On the other hand, the dark ghost of “Donnygate” haunts public perceptions of council members’ conduct. On 13 March 2002, the Guardian reported that: “The worst local government corruption case since the Poulson scandal of the 1970s ended yesterday” when former Doncaster planning chairman, Peter Birks, was imprisoned for four years and two former council leaders and two former mayors were among 21 councillors convicted of fraud.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 3rd August 2020

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Serious Fraud Office prosecutes Airbus subsidiary over alleged corruption – The Guardian

‘The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) is prosecuting a UK subsidiary of Europe’s largest aerospace multinational, Airbus, along with three men over alleged corruption in an arms deal with Saudi Arabia.’

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The Guardian, 30th July 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

A ‘setback’ for unexplained wealth orders – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted April 27th, 2020 in corruption, news, proceeds of crime, unexplained wealth orders by sally

‘On 8 April, two prominent Kazakhstan citizens successfully persuaded the High Court to discharge three unexplained wealth orders (National Crime Agency v Baker and ors [2020] EWHC 822 (Admin)).’

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Law Society's Gazette, 27th April 2020

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Oval Four: Final conviction quashed in corrupt detective case – BBC News

‘The final member of a group of four men who were jailed nearly 50 years ago on the evidence of a corrupt police officer has had his conviction quashed.’

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BBC News, 24th March 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Lessons learned from account forfeiture proceedings (NCA v Vlad Luca Filat) – 5 SAH

Posted January 16th, 2020 in bribery, corruption, forfeiture, money laundering, news by sally

‘The Crown Court dismissed Vlad Luca Filat’s appeal against the decision to forfeit £500,000 held in three bank accounts in his name. The court held that the money derived from bribery and corruption offences committed by the appellant’s father, the former prime minister of Moldova, and was obtained by money laundering. The case was the National Crime Agency’s first contested account forfeiture application. James Fletcher, barrister at 5SAH Chambers, who appeared for the National Crime Agency, suggests that these types of applications are likely to be deployed more and more often.’

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5 SAH, 14th January 2020

Source: www.5sah.co.uk