MPs to quiz preferred candidate for chair of Committee on Standards in Public Life

The Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee is set to hold a pre-appointment hearing with the Government's preferred candidate for the position of Chair of the Committee on Standards in Public Life (CSPL), Douglas Chalmers OBE.

MPs will grill the candidate this week (29 November) on his experience, skills and knowledge, as well as his priorities for his time as chair if appointed.

Chalmers has a military background, having joined the British Army in 1984. He left the military in 2021 after rising to Lieutenant General and serving as Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff. He is currently Master of Emanuel College Cambridge.

Announcing him as the preferred candidate, Deputy Prime Minister, Oliver Dowden, said: "[Chalmers's] extensive and versatile experience in the Army, Government and academia will be a great asset to the Committee in helping to uphold ethical standards of conduct across public life."   

If successful, Chalmers will replace Lord Evans of Weardale KCB, whose five-year tenure saw the committee publish six reviews, including one on local government ethical standards.

In a valedictory speech, Lord Evans voiced disappointment that the Government rejected the recommendations made in the Committee's review of local government ethical standards.

He also warned that going forward, the CSPL will have to tackle problems around a "very weak" system for ensuring compliance with standards and issues around developing a culture where people are comfortable discussing the ethical dimension of their work and the standards of conduct expected.

Chalmers was made an MBE in 2003 and OBE in 2008. He was also made a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in 2021 for services to defence during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Adam Carey