Deconstructing Emerging Corruption Scandals in Gibraltar and Russia + New UK Governance Report

How can we root out corruption in politics, both at home and abroad? What’s caused the crisis in Israel around its ultra-Orthodox population? What really happened in the story of crypto’s former golden boy, Sam Bankman-Fried?

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Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and more in today’s episode of The Rest Is Politics.

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00:00 Intro
00:40 Rishi Sunak's easter honours list
16:42 Code of conduct for Singapore ministers and corruption in Hong Kong
20:23 Gibraltar and the McGrail Enquiry
24:46 Corruption ranked by country
28:22 Azerbaijan, Medvedchuk and the EU
35:56 Break
36:06 Israel and Netanyahu banning Al Jazeera
51:20 Sam Bankman-Fried sentenced
1:00:42 Outro

[VinceLammas]

The current British government does not want the public understanding the extent of Russian influence in UK politics. I wonder why?

[joestacey]

This one was great! Really informative and insightful. Thanks to both of you and to everyone that helps put these together

[davecap]

It is not possible to rely on MPs behaving in any ethical way and a legal code should be introduced with real penalties for those who break the code. Maybe then there will be some grounds for trusting our MPs.

[johngriffin]

A very deliberate, and very precise strike against British aid workers, why isn't HM Government trying to establish EXACTLY who is responsible, and then taking the appropriate judicial action?

[fragglet]

Problem with reforming the honours system like this is the same one that happened with the fixed term parliaments act where there's nothing to stop a future government getting around any reforms by just passing an act of parliament to to appoint peers. I'm of the opinion that, like other countries, the UK really needs a formal written constitution that lays out the ground rules and requires a supermajority to amend.

[kosty]

I love the way they can bounce between serious and fun. I was listening to an old episode on my walk today which really made me laugh out loud.

[mufc]

Love Rory’s explanation’s very clear history in a few sentences 👍

[W_Bin]

How incredible that parliament has escaped being cleaned up for so long! Very valuable discussion thanks!

[johngriffin]

Gibraltar was captured by the British Fleet in 1704 during the war of the Spanish Succession. On 4th August 1704, an Anglo-Dutch fleet under the command of Admiral George Rooke took Gibraltar from the Spanish. From dawn on that day and for the next five hours, some 15, 000 canons were fired from the fleet into the city. The invaders, led by the English majority, landed the same morning and not surprisingly encountered little opposition.
Under the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713 Gibraltar was ceded to Britain. This treaty stated “the town, castle and fortifications were to be held and enjoyed for ever without any exception or impediment whatsoever.” This treaty was renewed again in 1763 by the Treaty of Paris, and in 1783 by the Treaty of Versailles.

[DoriZuza]

Anaesthesiologist here.
Alastair, I’m glad your anaesthesia and surgery went well.
You were probably safer than a Tory would have been 😅
Sorry Rory, you’re one of the good ones.

In case anyone’s interested in the specifics:
Every general anaesthetic does involve a (hopefully) short respiratory arrest at the start, and difficulties with the airway can be fatal, indeed. But the vast majority of patients survive just fine.
Some patients get too worked up about the risks, others are so oblivious it’s a bit concerning.

[philipsmith]

It is a horrible coincidence that within days of the International Court of Justice ordering Israel to ensure that adequate food supplies are provided without delay to the population of Gaza the killing of workers in an aid convoy by the Israeli military has caused aid to be reduced by the withdrawal of some aid agencies.

[jonathonjubb]

Sometimes it doesn't take a lot to astonish young Rory..
Eg. 80% Brits think politics is corrupt doesn't surprise me one jot!

[daveyjohn]

It wasn't the Lib dems in the 1920's, wasn't it the Liberal party?

[Tom_murray]

Another insightful podcast episode I feel you take the confusion out of politics

[mikedignum]

And they wonder why people are fed up with politicans and thinking of not voting.

[thomasmclurg]

Why do we let the worst of us lead us...

[antonyliberopoulos]

Thank you for informing us in such an excellent way.

[t.p.mckenna]

Can we very clear, MPs holding directorships and consultancies is as much a form of corruption as taking bungs. They are not being recruited to these positions because they have a pretty face. They're literally, on board, to open up their phone lists and make introductions. That has to stop.

[michaels]

we don’t need to just stop cash for honours we need to strip the HoL from every member and hold local elections to ensure both houses are accountable to the public, these members should not be allowed to join a political party, true democracy

[jhumps]

Story about HK police with money in the draw. Retired PC told me a very similar one about his first day at the Met.