Select Committee · Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
Propriety, ethics and the wider standards landscape in the UK
Status: Open
Opened: 3 Jun 2025
Inquiry scope
The Government has a manifesto commitment to “restore confidence in government and ensure ministers are held to the highest standards". Trust in government and the political system more widely is essential to the proper functioning and prosperity of a democratic state. Concerns with ethical standards are not new, however controversy surrounding the propriety of conduct of those in public life was a particularly prominent part of political life during the last parliament. This has raised questions as to whether the current system of ethical standards regulation is sufficient or even fit for purpose. Read the call for evidence for more detail about the inquiry.Oral evidence sessions
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| Date | Session and witnesses | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 21 Apr 2026 | Ellen Atkinson · Cabinet Office, Simon Madden · NHSX, The Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent | View ↗ |
| 14 Apr 2026 | Doug Chalmers CB DSO OBE | View ↗ |
| 24 Feb 2026 | Daniel Greenberg CB, Ed Humpherson CB, John Pullinger CB · Electoral Commission, Paula Sussex CBE | View ↗ |
| 3 Feb 2026 | Councillor Iain Hamilton · National Association of Local Councils, Councillor Matt Boughton · Local Government Association, Kim Wright · Solace | View ↗ |
| 12 Nov 2025 | Rt Hon Sir Peter Riddell CBE · Cabinet Office, The Lord Evans of Weardale KCB DL | View ↗ |
Who gave evidence
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| Witness | Organisation | Sessions |
|---|---|---|
| Councillor Iain Hamilton · Chair | National Association of Local Councils | 1 |
| Councillor Matt Boughton · Chair of the LGA Safer and Stronger Communities Committee | Local Government Association | 1 |
| Daniel Greenberg CB | — | 1 |
| Doug Chalmers CB DSO OBE | — | 1 |
| Ed Humpherson CB | — | 1 |
| Ellen Atkinson | Cabinet Office | 1 |
| John Pullinger CB · Chair | Electoral Commission | 1 |
| Kim Wright · Spokesperson on Leadership and Learning | Solace | 1 |
| Paula Sussex CBE | — | 1 |
| Rt Hon Sir Peter Riddell CBE | Cabinet Office | 1 |
| Simon Madden · Director of Policy & Strategy | NHSX | 1 |
| The Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent | — | 1 |
| The Lord Evans of Weardale KCB DL | — | 1 |
Correspondence
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| Published | Direction | Letter |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Jun 2026 | To committee | Letter from Baroness Anderson, Parliamentary Secretary on Propriety, ethics and the wider standards landscape oral evidence session on 21.4.26, dated 11.5.26 |
| 3 Sep 2025 | To committee | Letter from Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on Propriety and ethics, dated 21.7.25 |