Givers and takers: a new Autonomy project pursuing government accountability
Will Stronge
25th March 2025
Project overview
At the Autonomy Institute we’re launching an ambitious project to bring greater transparency to government contracting and political donations. Using the latest AI and database integrations, this project will systematically identify and expose undisclosed relationships between government contractors and political donors (both historical and contemporary) to strengthen democratic scrutiny and public accountability. We’ll be linking government contractor website data with Electoral Commission data to tighten up scrutiny on government contracting. Hitherto, journalists have done this more or less manually – we will be automating and scaling this work.
Key questions
This initiative will address critical questions, such as:
• Financial influence: Do political donors gain an advantage in securing government contracts?
• Contracting patterns: Are contracts awarded based on merit, or do political connections play a role?
• Conflicts of interest: Do government-linked individuals hold financial stakes in contracted firms?
• Policy reform: How can our findings inform stronger rules to prevent favoritism and undue influence?
How we’ll achieve this
Phase I: Building the data infrastructure
• Use AI-powered tools to analyze and cross-reference government contract data, corporate records, and political donations.
• Develop a centralised platform that makes this information accessible and searchable.
Phase II: Revealing the patterns
• Generate automated reports that highlight potential conflicts of interest.
• Share key findings with journalists, watchdog organisations, and advocacy groups.
• Conduct independent investigations and support media coverage on emerging issues.
Phase III: Driving change
• Provide policymakers with evidence-backed recommendations for reform.
• Amplify findings through public reports, media collaborations, and advocacy efforts.
• Encourage stronger regulations to safeguard government integrity and prevent favoritism.
Who will benefit
This initiative will serve as a valuable resource for:
• Journalists & media organisations: Streamlining investigative reporting on political influence and favouritism. This project will sharpen the questions asked.
• Advocacy & watchdog groups: Providing evidence to strengthen anti-corruption efforts.
• Policymakers & regulators: Offering data-driven insights to inform legislative reforms.
• The public: Empowering citizens with greater transparency on how public funds are allocated.
Why now?
With a new government in place in the UK, following more than a decade of Conservative-led administrations, this is a crucial moment to set higher standards for transparency and accountability. Previous investigations have revealed troubling cases of favoritism in government contracting, and without sustained scrutiny, similar practices may persist. By acting now and by scaling up the investigative processes, we can shape the public discourse, expose conflicts of interest, and drive meaningful reform.
Next steps
Over the coming months, our team will build and refine our methods, engage with journalists and advocacy groups, and share findings that demand public attention. We invite all those committed to government integrity to follow our progress and contribute to the effort.
Transparency is a cornerstone of democracy. Through this initiative, we aim to ensure that public resources are allocated fairly and that government actions remain accountable to the wider public.
This project is supported by the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust.
Will Stronge is Chief Executive at the Autonomy Institute.