Overview

This bill aims to create statutory codes of conduct for various elected officials in the UK, including Ministers, Members of Parliament (MPs), Members of the House of Lords, and councillors in England. It introduces independent commissioners to oversee these codes and investigate breaches, strengthening accountability and transparency.

Description

The bill mandates statutory codes of conduct for:

• Ministers of the Crown: The Prime Minister must create and annually update a code covering registration of interests, adherence to the Seven Principles of Public Life, and restrictions on post-office roles. An independent commissioner will investigate breaches and monitor the code.
• Members of the House of Commons: The Leader of the House must create and annually update a code, including interest registration and adherence to the Seven Principles. An independent commissioner will oversee compliance.
• Members of the House of Lords: Similar to the Commons, the Leader of the House of Lords will create and update the code, with an independent commissioner for oversight.
• Councillors in England: The bill amends the Localism Act 2011 and requires the Secretary of State to create regulations outlining a code of conduct for various council types, including provisions for interest registration and investigation of breaches. The code must align with seven principles: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty, and leadership.

Government Spending

The bill doesn't specify direct government spending figures. However, costs will arise from establishing and maintaining the offices of the independent commissioners and from the administrative work related to implementing and enforcing the new codes of conduct. The exact cost will depend on the scale of the investigations and monitoring activities.

Groups Affected

• Ministers: Subject to stricter rules and independent scrutiny of their conduct.
• MPs: Subject to a new, statutory code of conduct and increased accountability.
• Members of the House of Lords: Subject to a new, statutory code of conduct and increased accountability.
• Councillors in England: Subject to a new, statutory code of conduct and increased accountability.
• Independent Commissioners: Newly appointed roles responsible for investigating breaches and monitoring the codes of conduct.
• Public: May benefit from increased transparency and accountability in the conduct of elected officials.

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