Tag

08 Feb Political parties

The ministerial code must become law if we are serious about repairing broken trust in politics

After the cash for questions scandal in 1994, the then-prime minister John Major set up the Committee on Standards in Public Life to review issues of standards applicable to public life.

11 Jan Parliament

We need to put the ministerial code on a statutory footing to repair distrust in politics

Most MPs seek election because they want to help improve the lives of their constituents. But our job is made so much harder when a minority break or bend the rules we are meant to uphold.

02 Dec 2022 Political parties

Tory MP Says Winning Election Is "Nearly Impossible", Childcare System Is "Failing", Senior Tory To Quit

Conservative MP Charles Walker has said his party "scored an own goal" with Liz Truss's short-lived premiership and accused the government of "playing fast and loose with people's finances".

16 Nov 2022 Books & culture

Taking a reformer’s axe to the constitution: Graham Allen reviews 'Bonfire of the Decencies'

Heavyweight democratic academics Andrew Blick and Lord Hennessy unflinchingly tell it like it is and how our constitution could be improved

17 Jun 2022 Political parties

Downing Street Confirms Ethics Adviser Role May Be Scrapped

Number 10 has confirmed the role of ethics adviser to the Prime Minister may be scrapped in its current form after Lord Geidt resigned from the role on Wednesday over being put in an "impossible and odious position".

16 Jun 2022 Home affairs

Boris Johnson's Ethics Adviser Quit After Being Put In “Impossible and Odious" Position Over Breaking Ministerial Code

Lord Geidt has claimed he was forced to resign after being put in an "impossible and odious position" after being asked to consider a “deliberate and purposeful breach” of the ministerial code.

16 Jun 2022 Political parties

Dominic Raab Says Government's Had "A Difficult Patch” After Ethics Adviser Quits

Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab has complained that the government has “had a difficult patch” after Boris Johnson’s ethics adviser quit last night.

15 Jun 2022 Political parties

Lord Geidt Resigns As Boris Johnson's Ethics Chief

The Prime Minister’s ethics adviser has resigned from his post in a further blow to the government as it seeks to repair the damage of partygate.

24 May 2022 Political parties

Boris Johnson Accused Of “Embarrassing Delay” In Enabling Ethics Adviser To Investigate Ministers

Boris Johnson has been accused of an "embarrassing delay” in giving promised new powers to his ethics adviser as a result of the row over who paid for his Number 10 flat renovation.

24 May 2022 Political parties

The relationship between ministers and the civil service can be bumpy - but is the system still working?

The connection between civil servants and ministers has come under increased scrutiny after reports of tension over recent policy decisions.

21 Apr 2022 Coronavirus

Boris Johnson To Face Commons Probe Over Partygate After "Humiliating" Government U-turn

The Prime Minister will face an inquiry into whether he misled Parliament over his denials he had broken lockdown rules.

21 Apr 2022 Parliament

It’s high time we make wilful lying by politicians a criminal offence

With public trust in our democratic system plummeting as we hurtle helter-skelter from one scandal to another lie, the very reputation of our democracy, and of ourselves, is seemingly at stake.

21 Apr 2022 Coronavirus

Minister Urges Tory MPs To Vote Against Labour "Shenanigans" Over Partygate Probe

Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi has said the Commons should wait for the police to finish their investigation before launching their own Partygate probe.

28 May 2021 Political parties

Boris Johnson Acted "Unwisely" Over Funding For Downing Street Flat Refurb But Did Not Breach Ministerial Code

New ethics adviser Lord Geidt has cleared the Prime Minister over funding arrangements for the refurbishment of the Downing Street flat.

13 May 2021 Political parties

John McDonnell Grills PM's New Ethics Adviser Over Role With "Unethical Arms Dealer"

Downing Street's newly appointed ethics adviser has come under fire over his previous work with a British defence company, BAE Systems.

28 Apr 2021 Political parties

Boris Johnson Can Decide If He Broke Ministerial Rules Over Downing Street Flat Refurbishment

Downing Street has confirmed that Boris Johnson will retain the right to overrule a decision on whether he broke the ministerial code over the funding of renovations to his flat.

27 Apr 2021 Political parties

Review Of Boris Johnson’s Decision That Priti Patel Did Not Break Rules Over “Bullying” Can Go Ahead, Court Rules

The High Court has ruled a judicial review can be launched into the decision by Boris Johnson not to sanction Priti Patel over alleged “bullying” of staff.

10 Mar 2021 Political parties

PMs Should Not Be Able To Decide Which Ministers Are Investigated As It Leads To Code Breaches Being “Dismissed”, Says Advisor Who Quit Over Priti Patel Row

The decision to start investigations into ministers for breaking their code of conduct should not be made by the Prime Minister anymore.

29 Apr 2020 Home affairs

Labour demands publication of Priti Patel bullying report ‘as soon as possible’

Labour is demanding that the findings of a Whitehall probe into whether Priti Patel broke the ministerial code be made public “as soon as possible”, amid reports the Home Secretary has been cleared.