Britain has dropped further down international measures of political integrity, with new data showing declining public confidence in government standards and renewed scrutiny of political funding rules ahead of proposed electoral reforms.
The latest Transparency International corruption perceptions index places the UK 20th globally, its lowest position to date. The index measures perceptions of corruption in the public sector and is based on expert assessments and surveys conducted between January 2024 and September 2025.
UK position in corruption index
The UK had previously ranked eighth in 2017 but has since fallen steadily. Transparency International said the decline reflects assessments of governance and integrity in public office over the past decade.
Separate analysis by the Economist Intelligence Unit also recorded a deterioration in perceptions of probity in government and public administration during the same period.
Public trust and recent political scrutiny
Polling by the National Centre for Social Research in 2024 found that trust and confidence in government were at historically low levels, with fewer respondents saying they believed politicians would act in the national interest or be truthful under pressure.
The findings follow a series of political controversies across recent administrations, including scrutiny of public procurement during the Covid-19 pandemic and the conduct of former ministers after leaving office. Transparency International has previously reported that more than £15bn in pandemic-related contracts showed multiple risk indicators.
Following the 2024 general election, attention has also focused on the acceptance and declaration of gifts and hospitality by senior politicians. An analysis by Tortoise Media found that members of the shadow cabinet had declared more than £220,000 in tickets and gifts during the previous parliament.
Proposed reforms in forthcoming elections bill
The Labour government has pledged reforms aimed at strengthening standards in public life. Proposed measures expected in an elections bill include extending voting rights to 16- and 17-year-olds, granting additional investigative powers to the Electoral Commission, tighter rules on lobbying by former ministers, and restrictions on MPs holding second jobs.
Senior politicians have also supported banning political donations made in cryptocurrency. The draft legislation is expected to tighten rules on foreign donations but does not currently propose an overall cap on individual donations.
Transparency International has called for further changes, including placing ethics watchdogs and the ministerial code on a statutory footing, introducing stricter controls on post-ministerial employment, and strengthening oversight of senior public appointments.
Political funding levels
The Electoral Commission reported that £94.5m was spent across parties during the most recent general election. Labour accounted for £30m of that total, followed by the Conservatives on £24m, the Liberal Democrats on £6m and Reform UK on £5m.
Transparency International has also highlighted donations linked to individuals alleged or proven to have sought access or honours, estimating the total value at £48.2m across recent years.
What this means
The decline in the UK’s international ranking coincides with low public trust in politics and ongoing debate over the scope of electoral and funding reforms. Any changes enacted through the elections bill would shape how political donations, campaign spending and oversight operate in future election cycles.
When and where
The Transparency International corruption perceptions index was published on 10 February 2026, with related data drawn from UK polling and Electoral Commission reports covering the 2024–2025 period.
