The chair of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, Lord Evans, told BBC Radio 4's Week in Westminster "a number of allegations" in the past year "haven't been completely investigated". He would not name specific cases, but warned leaving things unresolved would be "very corrosive".

Lord Evans comments come as Westminster is embroiled in a row over lobbying. A number of inquiries have been launched into the activities of former Prime Minister David Cameron, who contacted ministers while working for the now-failed finance firm Greensill Capital. The reviews will also look at how a top civil servant was able to work for Greensill while still on the government payroll.

Earlier this week, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the "most important thing is to get to the bottom of it properly" and that all ministers and officials have been ordered to tell the government inquiry what it needs to know.

Lord Evans of Weardale said his committee - which advises the prime minister on ethical standards across public life in England - would be writing to No 10 with recommendations on how to strengthen the role of the adviser on ministerial interests. The last person in the job, Sir Alex Allan, resigned in November 2020 after the conclusions of his bullying inquiry into Home Secretary Priti Patel were rejected by the prime minister.

Speaking in March, Sir Alex said the adviser on ministerial interests should have the power to launch their own probes into members of the government. Currently, investigations into whether ministers have breached the code of conduct can only be launched by the prime minister.

Speaking to the BBC, Lord Evans echoed Sir Alex's comments suggesting that giving the role more independence would make it more effective.

Public trust in the present and former governments has been replaced by contempt. No change, no choice, no vote from me.

The government as seen on the BBC.....

The Committee on Standards in Public Life (CSPL) is an advisory non-departmental public body of the United Kingdom Government, established in 1994 to advise the Prime Minister on ethical standards of public life. It promotes a code of conduct called the Seven Principles of Public Life (The Nolan Principles).

Chair:The Lord Evans of Weardale KCB DL

The Nolan Principles of Public Life, which outline the moral and ethical principles public servants must abide by, are a list of seven ethical standards that those who hold public office – everyone from the Prime Minister through to teachers – are expected to follow while providing public service.

Their origins trace back to the Nineties, when former prime minister John Major set up a committee to establish rules and standards of public life, following scandals and concerns surrounding the actions of some politicians (for example, the cash-for-questions affair). The goal was to create standards which would “ensure the highest standards of propriety".

Since 1995, the seven principles of public life – named after the committee's first chair, Michael Nolan – have become the code of conduct for public officials. They are: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership.

The UK government lost the public trust years ago when the MP's expenses scandal was exposed.

The government as seen by its' own advisory committee on ethical standards:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commit...in_Public_Life



The Nolan Principles: What are they?

https://www.newstatesman.com/politic...be-breach-them