Thread by @JolyonMaugham

Extraordinary story about Johnson's half brother looking to get in on the £100bn 'Moonshot' bonanza. Exactly why we *must* have transparency around who Government proposes to give that money to and why.

Please support our attempt to do just that crowdjustice.com/case/operation…

We know how this will work.

First, a friendly newspaper - here the Mail on Sunday - floats the idea of public funds flowing into the pockets of Johnson's family member in a jokey piece that doesn't suggest there's anything wrong with that. ✅

Second, Government fails to publish any of the contracts, or anything at all, about the staggering sum of public money involved. ✅

Third, if or when Govt awards the contracts to Johnson's half brother, they don't publish details.

The (unlawful) refusal to publish contracts is happening consistently. (Govt has 30 days but we are at over eleven weeks and still it refuses to publish ten Pestfix contracts.)✅

Fourth, when we do find out we sue. Govt says "you're too late, we've already given the contract" and "you're just a busy-body who can't sue" and offers no explanation of the decision to award the contract to a mate.

All of this is happening in other cases we are bringing. ✅

Fifth, the story was already 'broken' by the friendly article weeks back so the newspapers - with the exception of the Guardian - can't be persuaded to take a serious interest.

It's grim and it's happening. These are breathtaking sums of our money. crowdjustice.com/case/operation…