Ministers used a Commons statement to outline a further set of measures on standards in public life, prompted by disclosures in the United States concerning Peter Mandelson and Jeffrey Epstein. The update framed the package as targeted legislation and procedural change to restore confidence in institutions and close gaps exposed by recent events.
Officials confirmed that an initial review of material had been undertaken, with relevant matters referred to the Metropolitan Police. The Government will bring forward primary legislation enabling the removal of peerages where conduct has brought the House of Lords into disrepute and will modernise disciplinary procedures in the Lords to reinforce that standard. The Prime Minister also confirmed the intention to remove Peter Mandelson from the list of Privy Counsellors.
Separately, the Government will change the process for certain direct ministerial appointments, including politically appointed diplomatic roles. Where a post requires access to highly classified material, the selected candidate will need to have passed the requisite national security vetting before any appointment is announced or confirmed.
Ministers intend to work with the newly established Ethics and Integrity Commission to promote higher standards across government. They highlighted earlier steps, including more frequent publication of ministers’ interests, gifts and hospitality, and reforms to severance payments-restricting payouts after serious breaches of the Ministerial Code and enabling repayment where the business appointment rules have been broken.
The Government will consider whether the existing arrangements for the declaration and publication of financial interests by Ministers and senior officials are sufficient. Options on the table include moving to regular, published financial disclosure forms or adopting other transparency measures to provide a clearer, more consistent public record.
Further work will examine the transparency regime for lobbying and the use of non-corporate communication channels for government business. Ministers signalled a strategic review of these channels, their legal footing and associated codes of conduct, amid concerns that sensitive information has been too easily transmitted outside official systems.
In the Commons, the Government restated its commitment to prohibit second jobs for Members of Parliament outside narrow exceptions such as maintaining a professional qualification. The Committee on Standards is already running an inquiry into second jobs; ministers said they are working with the Committee to translate recommendations into enforceable rules.
In the Lords, the Government will ask the Conduct Committee to expand its review of the Code to consider whether standards rules-including on peers’ engagement with lobbying-require reform. This sits alongside the planned peerage-removal legislation and the broader refresh of disciplinary procedures signalled by ministers.
Alongside standards reform, ministers pointed to the Public Office (Accountability) Bill and a separate measure to introduce a statutory duty of candour. The stated aim is to ensure that when tragedies occur, the state is required to account fully and promptly for its actions, complementing the standards package announced to MPs.
On document disclosure, the Government committed to comply with the Humble Address passed by the House by publishing all relevant papers. Items that officials judge cannot be released on national security or international relations grounds will be provided to Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee, with the Cabinet Secretary engaging directly with the Committee.
For departments, the proposed changes imply earlier engagement with UK security vetting prior to appointment decisions, tighter record-keeping and clearer guidance on digital communications. If ministers proceed with regular financial disclosures, Whitehall will also need a standardised system for data collection, verification and publication.
Key details will now be shaped through legislation, committee processes and guidance. Practitioners should track the peerage-removal Bill, the outcomes of the Commons Standards inquiry and the Lords Conduct Committee review, as these will set thresholds, due-process safeguards and timelines for implementation across government.