Committees

Standards Committee to hear evidence from political parties and new MPs in Code of Conduct inquiry

11 January 2021

On Tuesday 12 January, the Committee on Standards will hear evidence from a number of expert witnesses including representatives from political parties and newly elected Members from the 2019 election as part of the ongoing inquiry into the Code of Conduct for MPs.

Witnesses

Tuesday 12 January

Panel 1 - Political party representatives

At 9.30am

  • Sir Graham Brady MP, Chair, 1922 Committee (Conservative Party)
  • John Cryer MP, Chair, Parliamentary Labour Party
  • Patrick Grady MP, Chief Whip, Scottish National Party

Panel 2 - 2019 intake MPs

At 10:30 (approx.)

  • Feryal Clark MP, Member for Enfield North (Labour Party)
  • Allan Dorans MP, Member for Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock (Scottish National Party)
  • Gary Sambrook MP, Member for Birmingham Northfield (Conservative Party)

The evidence from both panels will contribute towards the first stage of a multi-stage review process, announced in September this year, in preparing a new text of the Code of Conduct, and the associated Guide to the Rules, for approval by the House.

The stages of the review process will include:

  • The public evidence sessions which will contribute to the Committee on Standards report
  • When the Committee publishes its report, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards will take up her own review of the Code
  • This process will be followed by a public consultation on a revised text of the Code
  • The Standards Committee will then propose a final revised text for recommendation to the House
  • The review process will also incorporate consideration of possible changes to the Guide to the Rules which will also need to be put before the House for its approval.

The most recent review of the Code was completed in 2015. For various reasons it was not possible to complete a review of the Code in the two recent short Parliaments, those of 2015-17 and 2017-19. However, the previous Commissioner, Kathryn Hudson, and subsequently an informal sub-committee of the Standards Committee both carried out valuable work which the present inquiry will take fully into account.

Further information

Image: PA