Received from: FDA
Congress recognises that we have been through a period, almost unprecedented in modern history, of constitutional and ethical malaise in government.
From the prorogation of Parliament to ministerial bullying, the sacking of senior civil servants and Partygate to the betting scandal in the final few days of the government.
Standards in government matter. The seven principles of public life – selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership – also known as The Nolan Principles, have no value if they are not championed by our most senior elected politicians.
Congress welcomes the new Labour government’s commitment to establish an ethics and integrity commission with an independent chair as well as proposals to drive up standards in government, the Commons and the Lords.
Congress recognises that if standards are to be raised, then they must be enforced by robust, politically impartial regulators.
Congress therefore calls on the general council to lobby the new government for:
i. reform of the ministerial code to separate the regulation of conduct of ministers from elements which relate to the conduct of government business
ii. a fully independent body which will have the authority to independently investigate and determine outcomes of breaches of the ministerial code, free from political interference
iii. a strengthened Civil Service Commission with new powers to investigate and adjudicate on breaches of the civil service code in real time, and new powers of enforcement
iv. the new ethics and integrity commission to have oversight across govt and parliament on standards, with a duty to report annually and recommend improvements.
FDA