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01 Mar Parliament

Our strengthened Code of Conduct will help build public trust in Parliament

Today, the new Code of Conduct which governs MPs’ behaviour comes into force. The reforms we have made to it will strengthen and clarify rules on lobbying and shield Parliament from undue external influence.

28 Feb Parliament

New Code of Conduct for MPs will tighten loopholes and improve standards in Westminster for all

To read some of the press, you would think every single MP is an identikit crook, thief, and habitual liar. But politics is an honourable profession. It is based in public service and many colleagues have made phenomenal contributions to our national life, often way beyond the call of duty.

12 Dec 2022 Political parties

Public Want MPs' Behaviour Monitored By Independent Regulators

Exclusive: The public have a very poor impression of politicians’ behaviour and support the use of independent regulators to ensure political standards are maintained, according to a new survey.

03 Nov 2022 Culture

New Parliamentary Standards Commissioner sees education and outreach as key to restoring trust

Daniel Greenberg, who takes over as the new Parliamentary Standards Commissioner in January, sees education on standards and mending the narrative around MPs as key to restoring voters’ trust in politics after a string of scandals.

24 May 2022 Political parties

MPs Won't Have A Limit On Second Job Earnings Or Hours After Failure To Find Cross-Party Consensus

A new code of conduct for MPs will clamp down on paid consultancy roles but will not place a time limit on second jobs, or an upper limit on outside earnings.

29 Nov 2021 Political parties

How MPs Could Be Hit By Proposed Changes To Parliament’s Code Of Conduct

The standards committee has recommended a host of changes to the rules which govern MPs' conduct, including second jobs, after a major row over sleaze.

29 Nov 2021 Political parties

Boris Johnson Would Be Forced To Declare Cost Of Spain Holiday Under New MP Rules

New rules recommended by the Commons standards committee on how MPs declare gifts would force Boris Johnson to reveal how much his free holiday to a luxury Spanish villa would have cost the minister who owns it.

18 Nov 2021 Political parties

MPs' Second Jobs Are Still Far From Banned And Some Fear Reforms Will Be "Kicked Into The Long Grass"

The government has claimed a vote on standards reform will update Parliament’s code of conduct to outlaw controversial second jobs for MPs, but the man in charge of drafting the rules has reminded them that is not in fact the case.

17 Nov 2021 Political parties

Boris Johnson Gets “Muted” Reception At 1922 Committee But Swerves Rebellion Over Second Jobs Proposals

Boris Johnson sought to face off growing Tory disquiet over the government’s handling of the second jobs row at the 1922 Committee by admitting to MPs he’d “crashed the car” over the Paterson affair.

15 Nov 2021 Parliament

There should be far more rigorous financial rules for MPs

Last year I fought to ensure that MPs for rural and island communities would be able to participate remotely in Parliament during the height of the pandemic. I did so to ensure that our communities got the same representation as anywhere else, regardless of geography or personal circumstances.

11 Nov 2021 Political parties

Chancellor Admits Government Must "Do Better" As Tory Sleaze Row Rages On

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has admitted that the government knows it needs to "do better" following mounting "sleaze" allegations that led Boris Johnson to insist the UK is "not a corrupt country" at COP26.

09 Nov 2021 Political parties

Boris Johnson Accused Of “Unhelpful” Application Of Gift Rules To His Advantage Over Spanish Holiday

The Prime Minister has been accused of an “unhelpful” application of the rules on gifts to avoid scrutiny of his holiday to Spain and the Downing Street flat redecoration, by declaring them under a system that he is in charge of.

09 Nov 2021 Political parties

Dominic Raab Says Tory MP Did A “Legitimate Thing" By Voting While Working Second Job In Caribbean

Dominic Raab has defended his former Cabinet colleague Sir Geoffrey Cox’s decision to earn hundreds of thousands of pounds in a second job in the British Virgin Islands as a “legitimate thing to do”.

08 Nov 2021 Political parties

Minister Expresses "Regret" Over Botched Attempt To Tear Up Standards Rules After Lobbying Scandal

Cabinet office minister Stephen Barclay has apologised on behalf of the government for last week's chaotic attempt at standards reform, during an emergency Commons sleaze debate prompted by a U-turn on the matter.

08 Nov 2021 Political parties

Minister Says House Of Lords Needs A “Rich Mix” Of Peers After Tory Donor Row

A senior Cabinet minister has defended peerages being handed to wealthy Tory donors by saying there needs to be a “rich mix in the House of Lords”.

04 Nov 2021 Political parties

What Will Happen To Commons Misconduct System After Government U-Turn On Reforms?

It's been a tumultuous 24hours in Downing Street, culminating in the resignation of an MP, and new plans to bring forward a motion to undo a vote that would have up-ended the parliamentary standards system in an effort to exonerate him from accusations of breaking lobbying rules.

04 Nov 2021 Political parties

Government U-Turns On Plans To Rip Up Standards System For MPs After Major Backlash

The government is backing away from controversial plans to overhaul the system for ruling on MP misconduct after a huge backlash.

02 Aug 2021 Political parties

More Than 170 People Applied For Watchdog Job That Went To Boris Johnson's Bullingdon Club Acquaintance

Labour has described the appointment of one of Boris Johnson’s Bullingdon Club acquaintances to a government anti-sleaze watchdog as an “utter joke” after it was revealed 173 people applied for jobs on the committee.