Thread by @Andrew_F_Smith

Thread. We can’t trust our MPs and ministers. We need an #IntegrityAct. Here’s how I think it should work. What are your views?

1/13…

We have the standards we need. The ministerial code and the principles of public life (often known as the #NolanPrinciples). They are fit for purpose. They just need to be enforced.

Read them. It takes but a moment. 2/13
gov.uk/government/pub…

The principles of public life need to be independently enforced. And they should apply not just to MPs and ministers, but to any staff they employ. And the MPs and ministers should be responsible for the behaviour of their assistants. #IntegrityAct 3/13.

If found guilty of any breach of the #IntegrityAct a minister or MP must resign his seat. A criminal court may impose further penalties.

Oh, and all ministers must be elected. No Lords. No appointees. 4/13

Parliamentary select committees should be given powers to summon ministers. Ministers should give their evidence under oath. Lying to a Parliamentary committee would carry similar custodial penalties to perjury. So would lying in the chamber 5/13

The #IntegrityAct could be used to make political mischief. That must not happen. So a robust process is required if an MP or minister is accused of breaking the ministerial code or standards in public life. 6/13

The #IntegrityAct process would start with an indictment. If an MP or minister was suspected of an offence the following groups could indict:

- A substantial group of MPs of any party.
- A substantial group of constituents.

Or… 7/13

- A high court judge if s/he believes there is a case to answer*

Under the #IntegrityAct the judge would consider evidence provided by whistle-blowing civil servants, contractors or police investigators. 8/13..

If an MP or minister fulfilled the conditions necessary for indictement, that would be heard by a committee of MPs, with legal advice. And under oath

The committee would have a majority of members from parties other than the accused member. 9/13

To prevent this becoming a kangaroo court, the members of the indictment committee would have responsibilities of fairness under the #IntegrityAct. With criminal penalties. 10/13…

The indictment committee is a jury of the MP or minister’s peers. It is there purely to find if there is a case to answer.

If so found a criminal court with a public jury takes up the cudgels.

11/13…

An MP or minister indicted under the #IntegrityAct would be tried in a criminal court, with judge and jury. If found guilty they would lose their seat. They would also face appropriate custodial penalties for perjury, fraud, misconduct in a public office, etc. 12/13…

I think part of any #IntegrityAct sentence should be manual work in a public setting (well, we couldn’t bring back the stocks could we folks?).

Whaddya think? 13/13