Member

Ministers will now be expected to forgo severance payments following a serious breach of the Ministerial Code, and we have given the independent adviser the power to initiate investigations into ministerial misconduct without the need to seek the Prime Minister’s permission first. The Prime Minister has also strengthened the Ministerial Code, with stricter rules on gifts and hospitality, and we have asked the Conduct Committee in the Lords to review the Code of Conduct to consider what changes are required to ensure that Peers can be removed when they have brought the House into disrepute in the other place. We are also exploring whether the committee can tighten rules on lobbying and paid advocacy to bring the Lords in line with Commons procedures.