MPs' outside interests

MPs should be updated to state that: Any outside activity undertaken by a MP, whether remunerated or unremunerated, should be within reasonable limits and should not prevent them from fully carrying out their range of duties.

The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards and the Commons Committee on Standards should undertake a review of the rules for the registration of interests. They should consider how the rules could be revised to make them clearer to MPs and the public.

MPs should register any non-pecuniary interests on the public Register of Interests, on the same basis as pecuniary interests: that the interest might reasonably be thought by others to influence actions taken in their capacity as a Member of Parliament.

As a matter of urgency, the Register of Members’ Interests should be updated to ensure it is digitally accessible to the public and other MPs.

MPs do need to declare pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests, and what level of detail should be provided in declarations of interest.

MPs have declared interests during Parliamentary proceedings.

MPs and Guide to the Rules should be updated to provide explicitly that Members should not accept any but the most insignificant or incidental gift, benefit or hospitality from lobbyists. Guidance should be offered on the limits of ‘insignificant or incidental’.

MPs should register accepted gifts and hospitality. The register of MPs’ gifts and hospitality should be published regularly and in an easily accessible format. The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards and Commons Committee on Standards should have responsibility for sanctions should gifts or hospitality not be registered.

All candidates at Parliamentary elections must publish, at nomination, whether they intend to continue to hold any existing interests if elected. The Cabinet Office should issue guidance on the registration of these outside interests in time for the next general election.