We are giving the independent ethics adviser unprecedented powers
3 min read
This Labour government is going further than any administration before us to restore public trust in politics.
This government was elected last year on a promise to clean up our politics and restore the British people's confidence in public service. Since coming to office, we have worked tirelessly to do exactly that, recognising that this requires sustained commitment and comprehensive reform across all levels of government.
This work could not be more important. Years of scandals in public life have — rightly — raised serious questions about accountability and honesty at the heart of government. The erosion of public trust didn't happen overnight, and rebuilding it will require action and unwavering dedication to the highest standards of conduct.
Decades of campaigning by the bereaved Hillsborough families shone a spotlight on some of the inadequacies in our system, and the Prime Minister made a personal promise to bring them justice.
This solemn commitment is being honoured through the landmark Hillsborough Law, which for the first time puts a duty on public servants to act with candour and honesty — even when mistakes are made.
This represents a fundamental shift in how public bodies operate, ensuring transparency becomes the default rather than the exception.
I am proud that, yesterday, a new independent Ethics and Integrity Commission started work and will play an important role in instilling this duty of candour across government. The Commission will bring independent scrutiny to ensure that ethical standards are embedded in how we govern this country.
For its first task, the Prime Minister has asked it to help public organisations write new Codes of Conduct. These codes will help ensure that all public servants — ministers, civil servants, NHS workers, police officers and others — act with integrity, honesty and candour at all times. They will provide clear guidance and establish consistent expectations across the entire public sector.
This is nothing less than what the British public expect, and nothing short of what they deserve.
But we are going even further to restore faith in our democratic institutions.
From when Boris Johnson tried to change the rules to help out his friend Owen Paterson when he was found to have broken them, to Partygate, to when Johnson changed his story about what he knew about Chris Pincher, it was obvious that the public deserved better regulation of standards. So, for the first time ever, we have given the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards the ability to investigate ministers accused of wrongdoing without needing the Prime Minister’s permission.
This crucial reform targets potential conflicts of interest and ensures investigations can proceed without political interference.
The Adviser will also oversee rules on how ministers earn money after leaving office. In time, this will build confidence that those in power can’t use their knowledge and networks for their own commercial gain after leaving government.
The British public is — understandably — cynical about politics and those in power after witnessing repeated failures of leadership and accountability. Setting the highest of standards in public life is not just about better government; the very future of our democracy depends on it, and we will not fail in this vital mission.
Nick Thomas-Symonds is the Labour MP for Torfaen, Paymaster General and a Cabinet Office minister.
