Modernisation Committee Chair comments on new ‘MPs' outside interests’ inquiry
31 January 2025
Commenting on the launch of the Standards Committee’s new inquiry into MPs' outside interests, Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, Chair of the Modernisation Committee and Leader of the House of Commons, said:
“I welcome the Standards Committee taking forward this important piece of work on MPs outside interests. The Government tightened the rules on outside employment for MPs in our first days in office, but we have a manifesto commitment to go further.
"I'm clear that an MP's priority must be first and foremost to serve their constituents. We must all meet very high expectations that we are focussed on our roles as MPs.
“Trust in politics has been damaged over recent years and it is in all our interests to close the gap between the public and politicians.”
Further information
The Modernisation Committee was established in the summer of 2024 and in September set out its key strategic aims of driving up standards, improving culture and working practices and reforming procedures to make the Commons more effective.
The Committee Chair and Leader of the House of Commons has appeared publicly before the Procedure Committee to discuss the Committee’s work:
The Committee Chair and Leader of the House of Commons appeared in front of the Standards Committee in January to discuss the Modernisation Committee’s request for an inquiry on outside employment and interests:
Read the Committee Chair’s correspondence with the Chair of the Committee on Standards.
Read correspondence from the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards.
Image credit: House of Commons