Senedd Standards Committee report takes important steps on political accountability

Transparency campaigners have today welcomed a report from the Welsh Senedd's Standards of Conduct Committee on strengthening accountability mechanisms for elected representatives.

The report comes following the Committee’s inquiry into individual member accountability regarding deception.

Commenting on the report Juliet Swann, Nations and Regions Programme Manager, Transparency International UK said:

"Declining levels of public trust in politicians and our democratic institutions should concern us all, but reforms must not unintentionally further undermine people's faith in the system.

“With these recommendations the Senedd Committee has taken a measured and pragmatic approach, focusing on improving existing mechanisms that can help restore public confidence.

“Our politicians must now grasp the nettle and ensure that accountability measures are useful, proportionate and outcomes publicly shared.

“But above all they should behave in a way that does not require those accountability measures to be tested.”

Tom Brake, Director, Unlock Democracy added: 

“We particularly welcome the suggestion that lay people should be added to the Committee.  My experience on the House of Commons Commission was that lay people can bring a different perspective and challenge the clubby nature of politics.” 

The report includes several recommendations made by Transparency International UK during the inquiry, and supported by Unlock Democracy during the evidence session, including:

• Introducing lay members to the Standards Committee to enhance independence and address concerns about politicians "marking their own homework”
• Producing 'sanctions guidelines' providing for improved transparency and consistency around what action might result if members of the Senedd are found to have transgressed from the code of conduct
• Strengthening the existing Standards regime rather than creating new criminal offences that could prove counter-productive

The report acknowledges concerns raised by Transparency International UK, Unlock Democracy and others that creating new criminal offences for political deception could risk politicising the courts and expose politicians to vexatious complaints, ultimately undermining rather than enhancing accountability.