10 January 2023 , 00:01
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Dodgy ministers and MPs would face beefed-up sleaze investigations under a draft law unveiled today.
A “fully independent” watchdog would finally be allowed to launch its own standards probes if the backbench MP’s Bill got the go-ahead.
It comes after Boris Johnson was embroiled in a string of scandals, prompting his adviser on ministerial interests to quit in protest.
Rishi Sunak appointed a new adviser last month.
But he can only investigate ministers with Mr Sunak’s permission - and the PM has the final say on punishment.
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The Elected Representatives (Codes of Conduct) Bill would establish a new Commissioner for Ministerial Standards with their own office protected by law.
It would also enshrine the Ministerial Code in law for the first time, after Mr Johnson and Rishi Sunak both tweaked the rules in ways that helped them.
And it would put the MPs’ Codes of Conduct on a statutory footing, enshrine the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner’s powers in law, and introduce a national, statutory Code of Conduct for local councillors.
Labour MP Debbie Abrahams said it “seeks to prevent the scandals we have seen in the past - and to hold those individuals who break the rules to account.”
She will introduce her Private Member’s Bill to the Commons today and its cross-party backers include Lib Dem and Tory MPs.
But it has little chance of passing into law unless it is backed by the Tory government.
The Bill is urging Rishi Sunak, right, to act (PA)Just 35% of people trust the government, and only a quarter think politicians would refuse jobs in exchange for political favours, official figures say.
It comes after research found MPs topped up their salaries by £17.1 million since the last general election - with Theresa May the top of the league table.
Drawn up by Sky News and Tortoise Media, the Westminster Accounts show that 17 out of 20 MPs with the biggest outside earnings are Conservatives.
There is no suggestion of wrongdoing by the MPs.
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Ms Abrahams said: “I believe most people from all political parties get into politics for the right reasons: to make a positive difference for their communities and the people they represent.
“Unfortunately, there are a tiny minority who use their position for their own purposes and who don’t seem to think that the rules apply to them.”
Lib Dem MP Layla Moran, who is sponsoring the Bill, said: “It’s clear that the Conservatives have simply given up on standards, and they have no shame about sleaze.
“Whether it’s dodgy non-doms, undeclared donor dinners, or VIP lanes for Ministers and their friends, Rishi Sunak looks set to continue Boris Johnson’s record of trashing public trust.
“This Bill sends a message from backbenchers to government - if you don’t clean up Westminster, we will.”