INVESTIGATION LAUNCHED: THE CITY OF LONDON CORPORATION — AN INSTITUTION BEYOND MODERN ACCOUNTABILITY?

JAOC has today launched a full, evidence‑led investigation into the City of London Corporation — the UK’s oldest, wealthiest, and most uniquely privileged public body.

Governing just 1.1 square miles — but controlling an investment portfolio estimated at £3–5 billion+, owning its own police force, embedding a permanent lobbying presence in Parliament, and operating an electoral system dominated by commercial rather than residential votes — the Corporation exists outside nearly every standard transparency and accountability framework applied to other UK public institutions.

We will examine: the true scale of its hidden assets; whether multi‑million‑pound land and property deals have ever favoured connected interests; how its historic charter status is used to justify limited public disclosure; the role of its lobbying arm in shaping UK financial regulation; and whether its unique governance model remains compatible with modern democratic principles.

This investigation applies the same rigorous scrutiny we have deployed across all 32 Scottish councils — but the City of London presents a far larger, more complex, and historically unique target.

If you have documented evidence, internal records, or verified knowledge relating to the City of London Corporation — we urge you to contact us securely and confidentially via our website.

jaoc.org.uk | City of London Investigation — Active