Committee publication · Correspondence · 17 March 2026

Letter from Rt Hon Darren Jones MP, Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister & Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on Standards in Public Life, dated 11.3.26

From: Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee

Summary

Chief Secretary Darren Jones writes to PACAC Chair Simon Hoare outlining government action on standards in public life following the Mandelson-Epstein scandal. The government has already strengthened ministerial oversight, reformed the Committee on Standards in Public Life into the Ethics and Integrity Commission, and is progressing reforms including bans on MPs' second jobs and political finance transparency. Jones announces the Prime Minister has asked the Ethics and Integrity Commission to review lobbying transparency, financial disclosures, and Business Appointment Rules.

Key findings

Government has strengthened Independent Adviser powers, introduced financial sanctions for Ministerial Code breaches, reformed severance payments, and tightened gifts and hospitality rules.
Ethics and Integrity Commission established with stronger mandate than predecessor Committee on Standards in Public Life.
Duty of Candour Bill progressing to prevent state concealment of truth; Hereditary Peers Bill and further legislation to enable removal of peerages from disgraced peers.
Government committed to banning MPs' second jobs with limited exceptions; engaging with Standards Committee on implementation.
Prime Minister has asked Ethics and Integrity Commission to review lobbying transparency, ministerial financial disclosures, and Business Appointment Rules, with results to be reported to Parliament.

Tone

Procedural

Topics

standards-in-public-lifeministerial-accountabilityparliamentary-reformlobbying-transparencypolitical-finance

Key actors

Darren Jones MP, Simon Hoare MP, Peter Mandelson, Prime Minister, Ethics and Integrity Commission, Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee, Standards Committee, Lords Conduct Committee

Notable line

“The Prime Minister has therefore asked the Ethics and Integrity Commission to review these important matters, relating to financial disclosures and the Business Appointment Rules …”

Key Quotes

“… this scandal has rightfully led many to reflect on our systems, infrastructure, and processes for upholding standards more broadly.”
— Darren Jones MP · reflecting on impact of Mandelson-Epstein revelations

“… one area where we can make improvements is on transparency around lobbyingand access to government.”
— Darren Jones MP · identifying focus for further action on standards

“The Government has also committed to the principle that second jobs for MPs should be banned with very limited exceptions, such as maintaining a professional qualification …”
— Darren Jones MP · parliamentary reform commitment

View original document →

Source · parliament.uk record ↗