The seven Nolan Principles provide the foundation for the House of Commons’ code of conduct. These principles are an integral part of building positive social norms and practices in our democratic system. However, parliamentarians may have different interpretations of what these principles look like in practice, which can lead to confusion and behaviour that undermines public trust.

These principles should translate into clear and concise rules in order to ensure the integrity of our parliamentarians and to stop MPs inadvertently breaking them. Moreover, frequent reflection and revision of these rules is essential to maintaining their effectiveness. We propose four key recommendations to update the current Code of Conduct.