Review of the Code of Conduct and Guide to the Code
23 January 2025
Following its inquiry reviewing the Code of Conduct and Guide to the Code, the Conduct Committee has published its report.
- Report: Review of the Code of Conduct and the Guide to the Code of Conduct (HTML)
- Report: Review of the Code of Conduct and the Guide to the Code of Conduct (PDF)
- Inquiry: Code of Conduct for Members and the Guide to the Code of Conduct
- Conduct Committee
Background and aims of the review
The present Code was adopted in 2009, and there has been no comprehensive review since that time. In March 2024 the Conduct Committee launched a review to consider whether any changes were needed in light of developments over the past 15 years.
As outlined in the Committee’s final report, the goal of the review was to shorten and clarify the Code and Guide where possible, while upholding the Code’s twin objectives: to “provide guidance for members of the House of Lords on the standards of conduct expected of them”, and to “reinforce public confidence in the way in which members of the House of Lords perform their parliamentary duties”.
The Committee published a call for evidence in March 2024, inviting interested organisations and individuals to submit their views. The Committee also took oral evidence in private from members of the House and external organisations.
Report and proposals
The Committee has now published its report, to which a proposed new Code and Guide are annexed, along with two documents on enforcement procedures and a new Code for members’ staff.
If agreed by the House, the new Code and other documents will come into force on 5 April 2025.