Ethics and Integrity Commission chair backs ‘middle ground’ standards regime

Speaking to the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee (PACAC) on Wednesday (15 April), Doug Chalmers said he favoured “something in the middle” between the former Standards Board for England and the current standards framework.

He suggested such a model should have real “teeth” and the ability to impose sanctions.

The EIC has previously voiced support for the Government’s proposed changes to the standards regime in England, which include a mandatory code of conduct and sanctions for serious misconduct.

Chalmers also indicated he would consider establishing a network of local government bodies similar to the Commission’s existing network of standards bodies in central government.

The proposal was raised by the committee’s chair, Simon Hoare MP, who suggested such a network could help address issues arising at parish and town council level. Chalmers agreed the idea would be “a very wise” one.

The committee chair stressed that any future network must include the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) and representatives from town and parish councils.

He warned that problems frequently arise within those councils but there is often “no route to try to solve them, apart from goodwill”, adding that by the time concerns are escalated “the goodwill has evaporated, if it existed at all”.

Elsewhere, Chalmers said the Commission plans to produce guidance on the forthcoming Public Office (Accountability) Bill, which is expected to introduce mandatory codes of conduct across public authorities.

However, he cautioned that codes of conduct alone would not be sufficient to drive behavioural change.

“On their own, as an isolated document, I don't believe [a code] is sufficient,” he said, adding: “It's how they link into your HR documents, your discipline documents, and all the other elements.”

Chalmers said that in some cases codes had “been put behind glass at the end of the corridor and it hasn't necessarily shaped behaviour”.

He said the Commission is working with behavioural scientists and analysing casework to identify best practice in embedding codes of conduct into organisational culture and decision-making.

The Ethics and Integrity Commission (EIC) was launched on 13 October 2025, replacing the Committee on Standards in Public Life (CSPL).

Doug Chalmers was previously chair of the CSPL and was subsequently appointed chair of the EIC upon its creation.

Adam Carey