MPs should not be forced to be saints, says new standards watchdog

House of Commons

MPs should not be expected to be “saints”, the new chair of the House of Commons standards committee has said, calling for less severe penalties for breaking minor rules .

In an interview with The House magazineconservative Alberto Costa suggested that when a “minor failure” at work did not involve corruption, MPs should not have to “stand up and apologize publicly”.

MPs must follow a strict code of Conduct govern lobbying, payments for parliamentary advice and declaration of interests, while safeguarding Parliament's reputation.

Violation of these rules can result in an MP being investigated, with the cross-party standards committee determining sanctions in more serious cases.

The standards committee is always chaired by a member of the main opposition party in the Commons. Costa was elected to the role in September in a vote of all MPs, replacing Labour's Harriet Harman.

In June 2023, Costa was one of four Conservative members of the Commons Privileges Committee. when he unanimously noted that former Prime Minister Boris Johnson deliberately misled Parliament over coronavirus lockdown parties at Downing Street.

In his House magazine interview he suggested the former SNP MP Marguerite Ferrierwho was suspended from Parliament for 30 days for breaking Covid lockdown rules and who was subsequently removed from office in a by-election triggered by a recall petition, had been treated too harshly.

Ferrier had traveled by train from London to Glasgow after testing positive for the virus. She was subsequently prosecuted and sentenced to community service.

He suggested that this was not an example of corruption but rather of “I go but for the grace of God”.

He added that “with a little compassion you could understand why she did what she did.”

Costa told the House it was “generally right” that MPs were “held to higher standards”.

But that standard should not be so high “as to require Saints to run for office,” he added.

The South Leicestershire MP said: “I am not and never have been a saint. I am a fallible human being like everyone else. To err is human.”

Costa also argued that allegations of bullying that led to investigations and resignations of high-level MPs – constituted a form of misconduct that could be dealt with privately.

“I would have thought that if you were to complain in your workplace, they would try to negotiate privately. They would say 'look what happened here?', and maybe get a private apology from the person. “

He expressed concern that “it might be a little too easy to complain about an MP being bullied or someone else being bullied.”

In 2020, a new Group of independent experts has taken responsibility for cases of intimidation, harassment or sexual misconduct by parliamentarians.

Costa added that the public was crying out for “more normal people” to “represent us, who look like us, who act like us. Well, when you put a mirror on society, you're going to have all kinds of people.”

“One of the things I'm not very comfortable with is when an MP makes an administrative error – a very minor error in which they don't disclose a modest interest – and they exceed the 28 day deadline. [to declare it]. It’s very easy to do that.”

THE standards committee was created to oversee the conduct of MPs in 2012, following the expenses scandal.

Half of its 14 members – seven – come from outside Parliament.

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