Committees

Standards Committee announce new evidence sessions on reform of Code of Conduct for MPs

25 January 2022

The Committee on Standards hears from a wide range of expert witnesses including Lord Evans, Kathryn Stone OBE, and journalists including Private Eye editor Ian Hislop, as they continue to gather evidence for their inquiry on reforming the Code of Conduct for MPs.

The evidence sessions will comprise seven panels taking place across two days on Tuesday 25th and Wednesday 26th of January.

The public hearings mark the latest step in the Committee’s inquiry into the Code of Conduct, after it published a new draft Code for consultation alongside a wider package of reforms to tighten lobbying rules in Parliament.

Chair's comment

Chris Bryant MP, Chair of the Committee on Standards, said:

“These sessions will provide invaluable evidence to our inquiry as we continue to investigate the best way to refresh and improve the Code of Conduct for MPs and further tighten the rules around lobbying in Parliament.

“The evidence-based report published by my Committee before Christmas set out a package of reforms to bolster the rules around lobbying and conflicts of interest. With that report now out for consultation until February, we want to continue to take evidence and hear from the experts, as we work towards finalising our proposals and improving standards in Parliament.

“Once our consultation is complete next month, the Committee will work on preparing a final proposed Code of Conduct and Guide to put to the House.”

The announcement comes as the Committee continues its public consultation on the refreshed Code of Conduct. The Committee is continuing to accept contributions to the consultation from those with an interest until 10 February 2022.

Following the conclusion of the public consultation, the Standards Committee will propose a final package of reforms and revised Code of Conduct to the House.

Witnesses

As well as discussing the current state of standards in Parliament, witnesses will provide expert evidence on matters ranging from transparency and accountability around Members’ outside roles and interests, to adding a new parliamentary principle of “respect” to the seven existing Nolan Principles of Public Life. The evidence sessions are as follows:

Tuesday 25 January

From10:00am: Panel one – Committee on Standards in Public Life:

  • Lords Evans of Weardale (Chair, Committee on Standards in Public Life)

11:00am: Panel two – Academics and think tanks:

  • Dr Hannah White (Deputy Director, Institute for Government
  • Professor Paul Heywood (Professor of European Politics, University of Nottingham)
  • Dr Jonathan Rose (Associate Professor in Politics and Research Methodology, De Montfort University)

2:00pm: Panel three – Journalists:

  • Esther Webber (Senior UK Correspondent, Politico)
  • Ethan Shone (Investigative Journalist, National World

2:45pm: Panel four – Journalists (continued):

  • Ian Hislop (Editor, Private Eye)
  • Richard Brooks (Journalist, Private Eye)
  • Solomon Hughes (Journalist, Private Eye)

3:30pm – Panel five – Parliamentarians:

  • Sir Desmond Swayne MP
  • Kate Green MP

Wednesday 26 January

from10:00am: Panel one – Parliamentarians:

  • Richard Burgon MP
  • Jess Phillips MP
  • Sir Bill Wiggin MP

11:00am: Panel two – Office of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards:

  • Kathryn Stone OBE (Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards)
  • James Davies (Registrar of Members’ Financial Interests)
  • Helen Reid (Senior Investigations and Complaints Manager)

Further information

Image: PC