Skip to content
openDemocracy
Subscribe

Yes, Britain is corrupt. But it’s a lot worse than you think

OPINION: The UK has dropped in the Corruption Perception Index. But corruption is global – and we are its engine

By Adam Ramsay
Yes, Britain is corrupt. But it’s a lot worse than you think
Canary Wharf in London: ‘It’s not just a fluke of history that the British state has ended up using its diplomatic and legal might to act as protector to most of the smuggling holes, pirates coves and secret stashes on the planet’ | Stefano Ravera / Alamy Stock Photo
Published:
Share

League tables make for good campaign tools. News of the UK sinking down Transparency International’s annual Corruption Perception Index has triggered a bounty of headlines that shine a light on some of the more nefarious inner workings of the British state. This is, of course, a good thing.

Some of those nefariousnesses pointed to by Transparency International are things uncovered by my colleagues here at openDemocracy, and we’re pleased all that hard work has been noticed.

But such league tables come with risks, too.

This article is published under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International licence. If you have any queries about republishing please contact us. Please check individual images for licensing details.

Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0