The Guardian just dropped a bombshell article on February 10, 2026, highlighting how the UK and US have plummeted to new lows in Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) for 2025. It's the kind of news that makes you wonder: are these bastions of democracy suddenly turning into sleazy backrooms, or have they always had a bit of grime under the fingernails? I'll argue that while the recent dips are real and alarming, labelling these societies as "always highly corrupt" misses the mark – they've been relatively clean by global standards, but systemic flaws and modern pressures are eroding that façade, fast.
The Fresh Lows: What the 2025 CPI Tells Us
First off, the numbers don't lie. The CPI scores countries on a scale from 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean), based on expert and business perceptions of public sector corruption. In 2025, the UK clocked in at 70, landing at 20th place – a drop from 71 and a slide from 7th back in 2015. The US fared worse, scoring a record-low 64 and slipping to 29th, overtaken by Lithuania of all places. These aren't just blips; they're part of a broader trend where established democracies are backsliding. Transparency International points to 50 countries declining versus only 31 improving, with the global average dipping to 42.
Why the nosedive? For the UK, it's all about big money poisoning politics. Record election spending has amplified reliance on wealthy donors – think the Conservatives raking in £15 million from one guy (Frank Hester, amid his controversial remarks), or Labour's top donor getting VIP access to No. 10. Add in scandals like Peter Mandelson's Epstein ties, and you've got a recipe for eroded trust. Daniel Bruce from Transparency International UK nailed it: "This persistent decline is not a temporary blip – it risks becoming a defining feature of our political culture."
Over in the US, the finger points squarely at the political turbulence of Joe Biden and Trump. Actions like using office to muzzle NGOs and journalists, politicising prosecutions, and undermining judicial independence have fuelled the perception of "transactional politics." And this is before the full impact of 2025 events hits future indexes. It's no wonder the US hit its lowest score ever – a far cry from its heyday.
The US's CPI trajectory from 2012 to 2024 (pre-2025 drop) is a steady downhill slide, with minor bumps but an unmistakable trend toward worse perceptions.
Historical Context: Were the UK and US Ever "Clean"?
Now, to the big question: have these societies always been highly corrupt? Short answer: no, not by CPI standards. Let's look at the data. The UK averaged around 80 points from 1995 to 2025, peaking at 87 in 1998 before the long decline to 70. The US mirrored this, averaging 73 points over the same period, topping out at 78 in 2000 and bottoming at 64 now. These scores have consistently placed them in the top tier globally – far from "highly corrupt" territories like Somalia (9) or South Sudan (9).
That said, corruption isn't a modern invention. The UK has a sordid history: think the 18th-century "rotten boroughs" where seats in Parliament were bought, or the colonial era's exploitation via the East India Company, which was basically legalised looting. Fast-forward to the 20th century with cash-for-questions scandals in the 1990s. But post-WWII reforms, like stronger oversight bodies, kept perceptions high until the 2010s.
The US? It's the land of Tammany Hall machine politics in the 19th century, the Teapot Dome scandal in the 1920s (oil leases for bribes), and Watergate in the 1970s. Yet, the CPI's launch in 1995 captured a relatively golden era, bolstered by post-Watergate reforms like the Ethics in Government Act. The decline kicked in around 2015-2016, coinciding with rising polarisation, Citizens United (unleashing unlimited campaign cash), and the Trump era's norm-busting.
Politically incorrect take: these countries weren't "always highly corrupt" – they were just better at hiding it or framing it as "lobbying" and "networking." In the UK, the honours system has long been a backdoor for donor perks; in the US, revolving doors between government and industry are normalised. But the CPI measures perceptions, and recent exposures via social media and leaks (like Epstein files) have amplified awareness. Global strains – polarisation, armed conflicts, terrorism, ethnic conflict – are hitting democracies hardest, as Transparency International notes.
This is a new low in terms of rankings and scores, but it's an acceleration of longstanding issues rather than a sudden fall from grace. The UK and US have enjoyed high marks because their corruption is often "legalised" – like Super PACs or unlimited donations – unlike outright bribery in lower-ranked nations. But as inequality grows and trust in institutions tanks, perceptions sour. It's not that they've "always been highly corrupt"; it's that the veneer of integrity is cracking under modern pressures.
If we want to reverse this, bold moves are needed: capping donations, transparent lobbying registries, and independent ethics watchdogs with teeth. The UK's government is talking a big game with a new anti-corruption strategy and £15 million funding, but actions speak louder than words. Same for the US – without reforms, expect further slides.
In the end, these rankings are a wake-up call. The UK and US aren't sinking into third-world corruption levels yet, but ignoring the trends could make that a reality. Soon.