Commons Sense

House of Commons · General Debate

Elected Representatives (Codes Of Conduct)

10 January 2023 · 1 other contributor

Opened by Debbie Abrahams Lab Oldham East and Saddleworth

Standards & Ethics

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Debbie Abrahams raised concerns about elected representatives (codes of conduct) in the House of Commons. Other MPs contributed to the debate.

Key points

  • Moves a Bill to provide statutory codes of conduct for public representatives including MPs and councillors in England.
  • Emphasises the importance of integrity and adherence to the Nolan principles for elected officials.
  • Critiques the current system for lacking independence and transparency in handling ministerial code breaches.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Debbie Abrahams Lab Oldham East and Saddleworth

Moves a Bill to provide for statutory codes of conduct for Ministers of the Crown, Members of Parliament, members of the House of Lords, and councillors in England. Emphasises the importance of integrity, probity, and adherence to the Nolan principles. Criticises the current system's lack of independence and transparency, particularly regarding investigations into breaches of the ministerial code by the Prime Minister. Proposes the establishment of an independent commissioner on ministerial standards and a statutory office for the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards with broader investigative powers.

Other contributors (1)
  • Debbie Abrahams Lab Oldham East and Saddleworth

    Calls for a statutory code to hold all political figures accountable, including Ministers of the Crown, Members of Parliament, members of the House of Lords, and local councillors. Argues that breaches of conduct undermine public trust in democracy. Proposes reforms such as an independent commissioner on ministerial standards with power to initiate investigations into breaches of the ministerial code and publish findings. Also suggests a standardised statutory councillor code of conduct underpinned by Nolan principles.

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