Margaret Hodge, a veteran campaigner against global corruption, has been appointed as the UK’s anti-corruption champion. Her extensive track record in combating illicit finance, both domestically and in UK overseas territories, underscores the Foreign Secretary David Lammy’s commitment to making anti-corruption efforts a central focus of his revamped Foreign Office strategy.
Lammy has emphasized the importance of tackling corruption, viewing it as a pressing issue for both the British public and the global south. He criticized the Conservative government for neglecting the matter after former Prime Minister David Cameron’s groundbreaking efforts were curtailed by his resignation in 2016.
Margaret Hodge’s Anti-Corruption Legacy
Before becoming a peer earlier this year, Lady Hodge served as a Labour MP for Barking from 1994 to 2024 and chaired the Public Accounts Committee between 2010 and 2015. During her tenure, she pushed for greater government action against dirty money in London, including holding enablers of money laundering accountable.
Hodge also spearheaded legislation to force British overseas territories to publish public registers of beneficial ownership, aimed at exposing money laundering and tax evasion. Despite these efforts, some overseas territories continue to resist public transparency, citing privacy concerns rooted in European Court of Justice rulings. Deadlines for making these registers publicly available, including one for December 2023, have repeatedly been missed, with no government enforcement.
In a co-authored article with former Foreign Office minister Andrew Mitchell, published in The Guardian in November, Hodge wrote: “Dirty money underpins corruption, crime, and conflict. Public registers, and the scrutiny they bring, are the best antidote to the scourge of illicit finance.”
Foreign Office Commits Funding to Combat Corruption
To bolster anti-corruption efforts, Lammy announced an extension of Foreign Office funding for the National Crime Agency’s (NCA) International Corruption Unit (ICU). Up to £36 million will be allocated over five years to address frequent complaints of under-resourcing. Since 2020, the ICU has frozen over £441 million in assets linked to international corruption.
“Corruption poses a real threat to the UK,” Lammy said during a visit to the NCA with Hodge. “It enables dictators, smugglers, and organized criminals worldwide, making our streets less safe and borders less secure.”
He highlighted Syria as a case study, referencing how the ousted Bashar al-Assad’s regime was financed through proceeds from the illegal Captagon drug trade.
Margaret Hodge’s Vision for Anti-Corruption Efforts
At 80, Hodge remains politically active in the House of Lords and expressed enthusiasm for her new role. “I feel privileged and delighted to work as the government’s champion, combating corruption and the illicit finance that flows from it, both at home and abroad,” she said. “The time has now come to put an end to dither and delay. We must take determined and effective action.”
UK Sanctions Target Illicit Gold Trade
In addition to Hodge’s appointment, the UK has imposed new sanctions targeting the illicit gold trade. Illicit gold is widely recognized as a driver of corruption, child labor, and human rights abuses while undermining legitimate trade and the rule of law. The UK government noted that Russia exploits the illicit gold trade to launder money and evade sanctions, fueling Vladimir Putin’s war efforts.
As part of its broader anti-corruption strategy, the UK is intensifying efforts to disrupt such illegal activities, positioning national security and financial integrity at the heart of its renewal plan.
