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Version 13 Version 14
World leaders pledge to tackle corruption at London summit – as it happened World leaders pledge to tackle corruption at London summit – as it happened
(35 minutes later)
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Closing summaryClosing summary
Jessica ElgotJessica Elgot
We are fighting a battle, all of us. Corruption, writ large, is as much of an enemy, because it destroys nation states, as some of the extremists we are fighting or the other challenges we face.We are fighting a battle, all of us. Corruption, writ large, is as much of an enemy, because it destroys nation states, as some of the extremists we are fighting or the other challenges we face.
ONE calls on countries who attended the anti-corruption summit to urgently implement gold standard policies that ensure fair play. To root out corruption, we need committed and robust action, crucially including the public disclosure of beneficial ownership of companies and trusts.ONE calls on countries who attended the anti-corruption summit to urgently implement gold standard policies that ensure fair play. To root out corruption, we need committed and robust action, crucially including the public disclosure of beneficial ownership of companies and trusts.
That’s all from me, thanks very much for reading.That’s all from me, thanks very much for reading.
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Cameron is asked about the need to push overseas territories and crown dependencies to do more to be open and transparent over the registers of beneficial ownership.Cameron is asked about the need to push overseas territories and crown dependencies to do more to be open and transparent over the registers of beneficial ownership.
He says the territories have come a long way in agreeing to the automatic sharing of information, and says that goes further than what the United States and some European countries have agreed.He says the territories have come a long way in agreeing to the automatic sharing of information, and says that goes further than what the United States and some European countries have agreed.
If you think how far they have come in the last few weeks and months, I am convinced we will get them all over that bar [of automatic sharing of registers, which British Virgin Islands has not signed up to do].If you think how far they have come in the last few weeks and months, I am convinced we will get them all over that bar [of automatic sharing of registers, which British Virgin Islands has not signed up to do].
The gold standard which I will push for as long as I have breath in my body, is public registers.The gold standard which I will push for as long as I have breath in my body, is public registers.
That is not just for small islands, it is the United States, China, India that I want to sign up as well.That is not just for small islands, it is the United States, China, India that I want to sign up as well.
Cameron admits there are challenges with the US, that the state of Delaware also has a lack of transparency. “We just have to work with all these countries to convince them to raise the bar,” he said.Cameron admits there are challenges with the US, that the state of Delaware also has a lack of transparency. “We just have to work with all these countries to convince them to raise the bar,” he said.
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Cameron hails 'coalition of the committed'Cameron hails 'coalition of the committed'
David Cameron has hailed a “coalition of the committed” for what he described as the biggest demonstration of political will to tackle corruption.David Cameron has hailed a “coalition of the committed” for what he described as the biggest demonstration of political will to tackle corruption.
#Cameron closing #AntiCorruptionSummit: If we want to tackle poverty + beat extremism, we have to tackle #corruption pic.twitter.com/ZEJgK8wMDk#Cameron closing #AntiCorruptionSummit: If we want to tackle poverty + beat extremism, we have to tackle #corruption pic.twitter.com/ZEJgK8wMDk
He says there is “nothing so powerful as an idea whose time has come’ and that there are now 129 jurisdictions who have committed to implementing international standards to give tax information on request. He says those new standards have led to £50bn in extra tax revenue, “think of the roads, schools and services provided with that money”. He says there is “nothing so powerful as an idea whose time has come” and that there are now 129 jurisdictions who have committed to implementing international standards to give tax information on request. He says those new standards have led to £50bn in extra tax revenue, “think of the roads, schools and services provided with that money”.
Today’s summit is not just about securing the agreements, it’s been an different kind of events, not having speeches and talking to ourselves, having open challenging conversations asking tough questions. Today’s summit is not just about securing the agreements, it’s been a different kind of events, not having speeches and talking to ourselves, having open challenging conversations asking tough questions.
Cameron said there is a need for every country to reach a gold standard of a register of beneficial ownership made public, and he says that he includes crown dependencies and overseas territories in that.Cameron said there is a need for every country to reach a gold standard of a register of beneficial ownership made public, and he says that he includes crown dependencies and overseas territories in that.
This cannot be a fashion, we have to stay the course for the next 10 years as beyond. This cannot be a fashion, we have to stay the course for the next 10 years and beyond.
We are talking about stopping the corrupt hiding their loot from authorities. When people steal from your country and hide it in mine, we can find it and return it to you.We are talking about stopping the corrupt hiding their loot from authorities. When people steal from your country and hide it in mine, we can find it and return it to you.
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President Santos is closing the session now. He says the “sisters and brothers of corruption are terrorism, drug trafficking, illegal mining”, which are all part of the same chain. He says heroin from Afghanistan and cocaine from Colombia can be connected to one drug dealer in the UK, and that’s why intentional approach is necessary. President Santos is closing the session now. He says the “sisters and brothers of corruption are terrorism, drug trafficking, illegal mining”, which are all part of the same chain. He says heroin from Afghanistan and cocaine from Colombia can be connected to one drug dealer in the UK, and that’s why an international approach is necessary.
He says the Panama papers show how corruption is “scared of the spotlight” and urges new protection for whistleblowers who he says are under great danger in many countries. Prosecution is also key, he says, because people have to know the process works. He says the Panama Papers show how corruption is “scared of the spotlight” and urges new protection for whistleblowers who he says are under great danger in many countries. Prosecution is also key, he says, because people have to know the process works.
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Spanish Justice Minister Rafael Catala says that tackling corruption must go beyond laws and regulation, and become part of the culture. It is not enough to have laws and values, we need resources to change cultures, he said.Spanish Justice Minister Rafael Catala says that tackling corruption must go beyond laws and regulation, and become part of the culture. It is not enough to have laws and values, we need resources to change cultures, he said.
He says organised crime intensively uses technology, anyone defending the rights of citizens also need access to those tools. Society as a whole needs to foster transparency as a value, he says, as do private companies.He says organised crime intensively uses technology, anyone defending the rights of citizens also need access to those tools. Society as a whole needs to foster transparency as a value, he says, as do private companies.
Corruption is not something belongs to any country, it is an international scourge and the fight has to be based on international co-operation. Corruption is not something that belongs to any country, it is an international scourge and the fight has to be based on international co-operation.
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Baroness Scotland, secretary-general of the Commonwealth announces she will create an office of criminal and civil justice reform.Baroness Scotland, secretary-general of the Commonwealth announces she will create an office of criminal and civil justice reform.
I intend to be a magpie for every single good idea to put in to a toolkit for implementation and change.I intend to be a magpie for every single good idea to put in to a toolkit for implementation and change.
She also says she intends to create a Commonwealth standard of anti-corruption best practice, so companies can apply for a mark.She also says she intends to create a Commonwealth standard of anti-corruption best practice, so companies can apply for a mark.
.@PScotlandCSG sets out #Commonwealth priorities in tackling corruption at today's #anticorruption summit. WATCH https://t.co/Xf1i2oIejm.@PScotlandCSG sets out #Commonwealth priorities in tackling corruption at today's #anticorruption summit. WATCH https://t.co/Xf1i2oIejm
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Perhaps another pointed comment at Cameron here from Maltese prime minister Joseph Muscat. He says we should not speak about “corrupt countries” but of individuals.Perhaps another pointed comment at Cameron here from Maltese prime minister Joseph Muscat. He says we should not speak about “corrupt countries” but of individuals.
.@JosephMuscat_JM: We shouldn't speak of corrupt countries but of corrupt individuals & i don't know 1 place that is immune #AntiCorruption.@JosephMuscat_JM: We shouldn't speak of corrupt countries but of corrupt individuals & i don't know 1 place that is immune #AntiCorruption
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'We inherited 'fantastically corrupt' system' says Afghan official'We inherited 'fantastically corrupt' system' says Afghan official
An Afghan official, tasked with tackling government corruption, is the first to make a jib at Cameron for his gaffe when speaking to the Queen. An Afghan official, tasked with tackling government corruption, is the first to make a jibe at Cameron for his gaffe when speaking to the Queen.
We inherited, and I quote, a ‘fantastically corrupt’ system.We inherited, and I quote, a ‘fantastically corrupt’ system.
He says that in his country for the past decade “there has been enthusiastic international community partnerships willing to pour in billions into a country without thinking about the safeguards that were needed in order to ensure that money would be spent transparently and effectively.”He says that in his country for the past decade “there has been enthusiastic international community partnerships willing to pour in billions into a country without thinking about the safeguards that were needed in order to ensure that money would be spent transparently and effectively.”
He says the country is now saving $200m dollars a year from anti-corruption efforts which “otherwise would have gone into the pockets of mafia and corrupt companies”.He says the country is now saving $200m dollars a year from anti-corruption efforts which “otherwise would have gone into the pockets of mafia and corrupt companies”.
Without political will, there is no way we can fight corruption. No impunity for officials or companies, is a must.Without political will, there is no way we can fight corruption. No impunity for officials or companies, is a must.
He says Afghanistan is blacklisting on average one company a week, with the list published online and updated every week, and he invites the UK to publish a blacklist of corrupt companies as well.He says Afghanistan is blacklisting on average one company a week, with the list published online and updated every week, and he invites the UK to publish a blacklist of corrupt companies as well.
Afghanistan calls for countries to make their data on blacklisted companies public #anticorruption pic.twitter.com/YEZUPh4Yn0Afghanistan calls for countries to make their data on blacklisted companies public #anticorruption pic.twitter.com/YEZUPh4Yn0
(I’ll try to update the posting with his full name and title but I missed it in the introduction.)(I’ll try to update the posting with his full name and title but I missed it in the introduction.)
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Barry Johnston, head of advocacy at ActionAid, said the summit will be remembered for what it will not achieve.Barry Johnston, head of advocacy at ActionAid, said the summit will be remembered for what it will not achieve.
It’s good news that Nigeria, South Africa, France, Afghanistan and the Netherlands have used the summit to take action to publicly reveal the owners of secretive shell companies. David Cameron still hasn’t managed to get British overseas tax havens to meet the same standards.It’s good news that Nigeria, South Africa, France, Afghanistan and the Netherlands have used the summit to take action to publicly reveal the owners of secretive shell companies. David Cameron still hasn’t managed to get British overseas tax havens to meet the same standards.
3 organisations, 1 message - "#DavidCameron must act to end the era of #taxhavens at today's #AntiCorruptionSummit." pic.twitter.com/V4R7iBxxIg3 organisations, 1 message - "#DavidCameron must act to end the era of #taxhavens at today's #AntiCorruptionSummit." pic.twitter.com/V4R7iBxxIg
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Oxfam GB’s chief executive, Mark Goldring, adds his voice to concerns that the communique from the anti-corruption summit does not go far enough.Oxfam GB’s chief executive, Mark Goldring, adds his voice to concerns that the communique from the anti-corruption summit does not go far enough.
If corruption is a cancer then this summit has delivered some pain relief but not the major surgery needed to heal the global economy.If corruption is a cancer then this summit has delivered some pain relief but not the major surgery needed to heal the global economy.
Until tax havens are required to publish public registers showing who really profits from shell companies, the corruption and tax dodging revealed by the Panama Papers will continue undisturbed and millions of people in both the UK and the world’s poorest countries will pay the price.Until tax havens are required to publish public registers showing who really profits from shell companies, the corruption and tax dodging revealed by the Panama Papers will continue undisturbed and millions of people in both the UK and the world’s poorest countries will pay the price.
Sadly, tax dodgers can still sleep easily tonight as #AntiCorruptionSummit fails to deliver https://t.co/XaVX8ficW3 pic.twitter.com/J2VWAiY904Sadly, tax dodgers can still sleep easily tonight as #AntiCorruptionSummit fails to deliver https://t.co/XaVX8ficW3 pic.twitter.com/J2VWAiY904
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Laura Stefan, the Romanian anti-corruption campaigner, says a culture change is not easy in places where corruption is forced by economic circumstances.Laura Stefan, the Romanian anti-corruption campaigner, says a culture change is not easy in places where corruption is forced by economic circumstances.
“We tend to think that anti-corruption is something everybody wants. The establishment, in many of the countries where this is a real problem, does not want it,” she said. “Because they risk losing their assets.”“We tend to think that anti-corruption is something everybody wants. The establishment, in many of the countries where this is a real problem, does not want it,” she said. “Because they risk losing their assets.”
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