The revelations about the process by which Peter Mandelson was appointed to serve as Ambassador to the United States of America have once again raised questions about the suitability of the UK’s standards regime. Peter Riddell argues that ministers must be proactive, seeking to future proof the system through legislation, rather than reactively asking for reviews and tinkering with the rules when flaws in the system are exposed.
Continue reading
On 13 October the government launched the new Ethics and Integrity Commission, which supersedes the Committee on Standards in Public Life (CSPL). This solution was first proposed by Sir Peter Riddell and Professor Robert Hazell in their Constitution Unit report Trust in Public Life: Restoring the Role of Constitutional Watchdogs. They welcome the creation of the new body, but say that it will need stronger membership, more staff and resources, and a statutory foundation.
Continue readingOver a year after taking office, Keir Starmer’s government has announced its long-awaited Ethics and Integrity Commission, as well as other changes to how civil servants and ministers are regulated. Peter Riddell believes that the package of reforms is a positive one, but that the lack of a statutory footing inhibits enforcement. He also argues that these changes should represent a milestone, not a finish line, and that further action should be taken before the end of the current parliament.
Continue readingWith its first year in office nearly complete, Labour has been slow to act on pre-election promises to enact wide-ranging reforms of the ethics regime, including the creation of a new Ethics and Integrity Commission. Peter Riddell argues that public perception matters as much as adherence to formal codes of conduct, and that if ministers do not act on this soon, they risk adding to the impression that this is a government with no clear strategy.
Continue readingHolding ministerial office or leading a public body involves challenges and duties that do not exist in the private sector. Using recent examples of high profile resignations by public office holders, former Commissioner for Public Appointments Peter Riddell argues that although it is rightly difficult to remove some public servants, it is also incumbent on them to know in what circumstances they should offer to resign. When they do not then do so, it should be difficult – but not impossible – for a minister to remove a person when confidence in their ability to fulfil their functions has been lost.
Continue reading