ABSTRACT
The premierships of John Major and Tony Blair have each brought almost constant claims and counterclaims that corruption is present at the heart of government. Corruption has again become central to British political discourse. Legislation on electoral corruption probably generated as much debate as the measures to extend the franchise – indeed a major argument for the successive extensions of the franchise was to make electoral corruption more difficult. An increase in the complexity of government and administration can, therefore, only be a partial explanation for the growth of corruption debate. Indeed, one might argue that the growth of new technologies, far from increasing opportunities for corruption, actually reduced the potential for corruption in urban society by focusing public attention on the privileges of vested interest and the misuse of power. Voluntary organisations played a central role in the governance of urban society and collective ethical standards.
