Exciting news John. Lucy Powell, the new Leader of the House of Commons has announced changes to how MPs work which aim to make constituents their first priority, not lobbyists! [1]

A great step in the right direction, this shows the new government is listening to the thousands of people who signed our petition to #BreakTheLink with big finance during the general election.

But it’s not a done deal. The new ‘Modernisation Committee’ is looking to introduce a series of reforms to stop MPs doing paid advisory or consultancy work, but falls short on a total ban on second jobs. [2]

We need to keep the pressure on so they know we want them to go further.

Chip in to help us keep winning

We may have a new party in government John, but big finance still has huge influence over our democracy.

It’s not just through MPs' second jobs that the finance sector poisons our politics. Big campaign donations result in top jobs, like banker Ian Corfield who landed a role in the civil service after donating over £20,000 to new Chancellor Rachel Reeves. [3] This is the revolving door in action.

Private companies, including banks like HSBC, donated over £14.5 million last year to help Labour win. [4] So it’s no surprise that Chancellor Rachel Reeves has been feeling the heat from lobbyists to keep tax loopholes for bankers firmly open. [5] We need to keep the pressure on to stop this happening.

Chip in to keep up the pressure on the new government

Big banks and corporations might have deep pockets, but we have a people powered movement. And it’s your support that helps us keep winning.

Thank you so much,

Kate, Positive Money

Notes:
[1] UK Parliament Hansard: Code of Conduct and Modernisation Committee

[2] The Guardian: UK government to prevent MPs taking on lobbying jobs

[3] Politico: Labour donor bags plum UK Treasury job

[4] Dark Arts: The army of private sector secondees who helped Labour win

Open Democracy: Where Labour and the Tories got their money from in 2023

[5] Dark Arts: Inside the lobbying campaign to force Labour’s next u-turn

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