Analysis reveals Government has implemented only two of 28 key changes to improve standards in public life

As the Government launches its Ethics and Integrity Commission (EIC) today, new analysis by Transparency International UK reveals that the Government has made only limited changes to the rules surrounding integrity in public life, despite a pledge to “clean up politics”.  

Since taking office in July 2024, the Labour government has so far implemented just two of the outstanding 28 recommendations made in 2021 by Parliament’s then ethics watchdog, the Committee on Standards in Public Life (CSPL). The committee made a total of 34 recommendations, and the previous Conservative government implemented six. 

The committee issued its recommendations after the most comprehensive review in more than a decade of the rules governing ethical conduct and accountability in public office. Its final report concluded that the current system of ethics regulation relies too heavily on conventions and the bodies responsible for enforcing it lack sufficient independence. 

The launch of the EIC is a step towards improving standards in public life, but does not directly address any of the CSPL recommendations.  

Our analysis shows: 

• Labour in government has so far implemented two of CSPL’s recommendations: granting the Independent Adviser the power to initiate investigations into ministerial wrongdoing and improving the consistency of the rules around private employment for ministers and senior officials after they leave office. 
• Nine recommendations show some progress towards implementation, but the changes fall short of CSPL’s recommendations. Five of these changes were made by Labour, four by the previous government.  
• No progress has been made on 18 recommendations. These include broadening the remit of the lobbying register and tightening the business appointment rules. 

Rose Whiffen, Senior Research Officer, Transparency International UK, said: 

“We welcome the launch of the new Ethics and Integrity Commission as a step towards a more coherent approach to standards in public life. However, there is a risk this new body simply becomes a rebranding of the previous Committee on Standards in Public Life unless it is given a strong foundation in law and is accompanied by wider updates to the standards system.  

“Our analysis suggests the Government’s approach to improving standards remains piecemeal, falling short of the comprehensive change needed. The measures announced so far do not amount to meaningful reform. While in opposition, Labour was vocal in condemning the previous government’s ethical failings and pledged to restore integrity in public life – it now has the chance to show that commitment is more than campaign rhetoric.” 

Notes to editors: 

The full 2021 report from the Committee on Standards in Public Life, including the 34 recommendations, can be found here.