This House of Lords Library briefing has been prepared ahead of the following debate in the House on 9 September 2021: Lord Blunkett to move that this House takes note of standards in public life.
Standards in Public Life (275KB PDF)
Are the ethical standards which govern the conduct of politicians and civil servants fit for purpose?
The Committee on Standards in Public Life, which advises the Prime Minister on ethical standards across public life in England, has recently published the interim findings of its ‘Standards Matter 2’ review. This was a wide-ranging examination of the seven principles of public life and their implementation, which comes at the same time as several parliamentary enquiries examine the conduct of former and current senior office holders.
The committee’s report found that there were four areas standards regulation that needed significant reform. These were: the Ministerial Code and the Independent Adviser on Ministers’ Interests; the business appointment rules and the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACOBA); transparency around lobbying; and the regulation of public appointments. However, the Committee also rejected calls for other reforms, such as placing the Ministerial Code on a statutory footing.
Standards in Public Life (275KB PDF)
In January 2026, the government announced a new scheme to support urgent repairs and essential improvements to listed places of worship. Called the ‘Places of worship renewal fund for England’, it replaced the ‘Listed places of worship grant scheme’ which had run since 2001. This briefing provides an overview of both schemes, the government’s reasoning for the change and the reaction of stakeholders.
Social media and other technologies have made it easier, quicker and cheaper for foreign powers to spread false information online aimed at undermining UK democracy. Such disinformation campaigns are one type of interference operation. In parallel, researchers have noted a link between declining public trust and societal polarisation, which can be exacerbated by online discourse. This briefing provides introductory reading to these issues, including recent reports and government announcements.
Myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as ME or chronic fatigue syndrome, is a long-term health condition that is estimated to affect over 400,000 people in the UK. It is a fluctuating condition with symptoms including fatigue, sleep problems and brain fog. In 2025 the government published its final delivery plan on ME, which aimed to improve care and support for those with the condition.
