While the British public’s trust in politicians has never been high, recent surveys show it is in decline and is now among the lowest in Western Europe. The Prime Minister is only too aware of the crisis in public trust and set out a vision on his first day in office for how he will...
In line with its Terms of Reference, the Ethics & Integrity Commission (EIC) has published its first annual letter to the Prime Minister, reporting on the health of standards in public life. Coinciding with the first anniversary of the establishment of the EIC, the letter acknowledges where progress has been made but urges the government...
As the EIC approaches its first anniversary, our Chief Executive, Stu Sterling, reflects on a busy year. It has been a privilege to oversee a productive inaugural year for the EIC as its first CEO. In 1995 as the chair of EIC’s predecessor, the Committee on Standards in Public Life, Lord Nolan set out in...
I was a councillor for 24 years (2002-26) and a council leader for 12 of those years. So it worries me deeply to see recent polling which shows that trust in politicians and political parties in the UK is amongst the lowest in Western Europe – and has been for some time. Results from the...
CEO Stu Sterling’s Blog – August 2026 Codes of Conduct are about protecting the public and employees by creating the right environment and culture. As the Public Office (Accountability) Bill moves closer to achieving Royal Assent, the EIC is talking to those that its implementation will affect. The Government asked us to establish ourselves, over...