Hello, I’m Doug Chalmers, Chair of the Ethics & Integrity Commission.
I’m pleased to talk to you on the first anniversary of the Commission about the publication of our inaugural letter to the Prime Minister on the health of ethical standards in public life.
Our letter highlights the areas that we, the EIC, have identified as priorities for standards reform. Areas where, if decisive action is taken, the government can begin to build trust.
High up the list is lobbying regulation.
We published our first report in July, in which we set out a blueprint for delivering greater transparency around lobbying. As the current register of consultant lobbyists covers just four to six per cent of the lobbying that takes place, the existing system clearly fails the Nolan Principle of Openness. Our recommendations offer an opportunity to correct this, and other longstanding weaknesses that consecutive governments have failed to address.
Inaction leaves the Government vulnerable to the next scandal and further damages faith in the integrity of government decision making.
On political finance, we welcome the measures in the Representation of the People Bill, tightening the rules preventing donations from foreign sources entering UK politics, as well as the strengthening of the Electoral Commission’s enforcement powers.
It is crucial that the cross-government ‘task and finish’ team, looking at the issue of mega-donors, engages with all major political parties so that any future reforms have democratic legitimacy and are therefore more likely to endure.
Meanwhile, we were disappointed not to see legislation announced this year to implement the Government’s proposals for strengthening the standards system in local government. These proposals – which are particularly relevant to the government’s devolution agenda, were published in 2025, but progress has stalled. We urge the government to find time to legislate in this Parliament.
Looking back, a number of positive steps have been taken towards strengthening the standards system since the last general election, but greater urgency is needed to establish the conditions for trust to improve.
Which is why our letter calls upon the personal leadership of the Prime Minister to accelerate standards reform, to ensure that the high ethical standards expressed by the Principles of Public Life shape decision making at the heart of government and our public services.
The full letter, which discusses these topics and others, is available on our website.
Thank you.