Transparency International says UK should ensure McGrail report recommendations properly implemented

The global anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International says if Fabian Picardo were a UK minister, the McGrail report findings "would surely be a resignation matter".

It has called for the UK Government to step in to ensure the report's recommendations are properly implemented.

Transparency International says "Christmas is invariably a period for governments to bury bad news", and that December 2025 was no different.

It has highlighted what it calls the "astonishing revelations" that, according to Sir Peter Openshaw, the Chief Minister made "grossly improper" attempts to interfere in an active criminal investigation, and "grossly improper disclosure of confidential material" to his friend and associate, James Levy.

The watchdog says the McGrail Inquiry Chairman's analysis is comprehensive and fair: "neither a hatchet job driven by bias, nor a botched job through ignorance or incompetence."

It says the only reservation is how his recommendations might be implemented - calling it "incredibly risky, maybe even reckless, to leave delivery to Mr Picardo".

Transparency International says the Governor of Gibraltar has a "constitutional role relating to security", and that the report shows how a breakdown in governance can affect this.

Therefore, the watchdog says, the Governor should ensure Sir Peter's recommendations are "implemented openly, properly, and in a timely manner".

It says, "This should involve regular progress reports to Parliament, and at the very least, no involvement from Mr Picardo himself".

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Meanwhile, also in Parliament, the Leader of the Opposition has distanced himself from comments made in the Transparency International article.

Keith Azopardi said this was a matter for Gibraltar.