Supplementary written evidence from Committee on Standards in Public Life (LAN0028)

Dear Harriet,

Thank you for inviting Professor Gillian Peele and me to appear before your Committee on 23 January to discuss the Commons standards landscape. 

Amongst other things, we discussed the importance of embedding the Nolan Principles and how to increase their awareness amongst Members of the House. The long-established principles of selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership are a personal responsibility and set the tone for all in public service. They are what the public rightly expects of us.

We discussed the role that political parties, which are a key part of the standards landscape, have in encouraging high standards through mentoring and training. With an eye on the General Election, we then talked about the number of new candidates running and how political parties might ensure that they understand the Nolan Principles, and confirm that, if elected, they would be prepared to uphold them.

As you know we are keen to bring the Nolan Principles to the foreground and to encourage all those who might be entering public service to use them as the lens through which to review the numerous decisions that will be laid before them. I therefore wanted to let you know that I intend to write an open letter to the leaders of our political parties encouraging them to take time to discuss the importance of the Nolan Principles with their candidates.

Once the General Election has been called, I also intend to publish an open letter to all candidates as this seems to me to be a further opportunity to increase consciousness of the Nolan Principles for those who may be entering public life for the first time.

As I said in my evidence, high standards are just as much a matter of personal integrity as following the rules and guidelines set down.

Douglas Chalmers

Chair, Committee on Standards in Public Life

23 February 2024