Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Government Decision Making: Transparency

Thursday 22 January 2026 · 2 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Minister met families of victims from Manchester Arena bombings and Hillsborough recently.
  • Government aims to balance secrecy for intelligence services with proper oversight.
  • Prime Minister addressed Lord Mandelson's position regarding new information.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Ian Lavery Lab Blyth and Ashington
Democracy & Elections Foreign Affairs
Context

Public trust in politics is at a low, with the Hillsborough law implementation seen as a step towards improving transparency.

Question

With public trust in politics at an all-time low, I am grateful that the Government are implementing the Hillsborough law. Clearly, the duty of candour should be extended to all public servants. Speaking truth to power is central to our democracy and to global democracy. Does the Minister agree that when the so-called leader of the free world stands up in public and lies with impunity about our great country and our allies at every opportunity he gets, there is no law or legislation that will ever restore public trust?

Answer from Nick Thomas-Symonds (Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office)

On the first point, I met the families of the victims of the Manchester Arena bombings and the Hillsborough families only last week. It is critical that we get the balance right between allowing our intelligence services the secrecy that is essential to their work and having proper oversight. That is exactly the work the Government will engage in. On the wider point, the Prime Minister made it absolutely clear yesterday that he would not yield on the question of Greenland’s sovereignty. While I was proud to see our Prime Minister take that position, what a shame it was that the Leader of the Opposition could not rise to the moment too.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The duty of candour and its extension to public servants

How: Changed Subject

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Q2 Brendan O’Hara SNP Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber
Standards & Ethics
Context

Lord Mandelson described Jeffrey Epstein as his 'best pal' and urged him to fight for early release after conviction. The Labour party allowed him to retain his place in the House of Lords, despite criticism.

Question

In the interests of improving Government transparency, will the Cabinet Office now publish the details of how the Government reached the decision that allowed Lord Mandelson, the man who described the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein as his “best pal” and who then urged him to fight for his early release following his conviction, not just to retain his place in the House of Lords but to keep the Labour Whip and his Labour party membership card?

Answer from Nick Thomas-Symonds (Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office)

The Prime Minister made his position clear with regard to Lord Mandelson’s position when that additional information came to light. With regard to the House of Lords, Lord Mandelson is currently on a leave of absence. The revocation of a title requires a bespoke piece of primary legislation and is separate from the rules related to suspension and expulsion. Frankly, there is no alternative formal mechanism for a title to be revoked.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Publishing details on decision-making regarding Lord Mandelson

How: Legal Requirements

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