The Commissioner for Standards in Public Life
investigates breaches of ethical standards by ministers, members of Parliament and persons of trust, and contributes to the improvement of standards of behaviour in public life.
Complaints
You can complain to the Standards Commissioner about unethical behaviour by ministers, members of Parliament or persons of trust.
Resources
Case reports and other documents issued by the Commissioner, and the codes of ethics for ministers, MPs and persons of trust.
Standards Committee
Parliament’s Standards Committee oversees the activities of the Commissioner. It is chaired by the Speaker of the House.
Decisions not to investigate complaints will not be published
On 16 March 2026, Parliament’s Standards Committee turned down a proposal by the Commissioner for Standards in Public Life to begin publishing decisions not to investigate complaints. At present, reports drawn up by the Commissioner following the investigation of complaints are published. But if the Commissioner decides not to investigate a complaint, he cannot publish…...
Commissioner again proposes publication of decisions not to investigate complaints
The Commissioner for Standards in Public Life has written to Parliament’s Standards Committee asking for authorisation to publish decisions not to investigate complaints. Currently, the Commissioner's reports on his investigations are normally published. But if the Commissioner decides not to investigate a complaint, he cannot publish his decision to this effect. He can only send…...
Commissioner writes to Prime Minister regarding asset declarations by ministers
On 6 January 2026, the Commissioner for Standards in Public Life wrote to the Prime Minister regarding ministers’ declarations of assets for the year 2024. This letter followed a request by the Commissioner to obtain copies of the declarations, since the longstanding practice of publishing ministerial asset declarations had ceased. In December 2025 the Cabinet…...
