MPs give green light to next chair of Committee on Standards in Public Life

The Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee (PACAC) has endorsed Douglas Chalmers as Chair of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, following a pre-appointment hearing last week.

Chalmers has been Master of Emanuel College Cambridge since 2021, before which he served in the British Army, rising to Lieutenant General and Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff.  

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.

He will be taking over as Chair from Lord Evans, who completed his five-year term as Chair of the CSPL in October. 

In its report published today (4 December), PACAC also referenced the delay by the Government in completing the appointments process for the Chair of the CSPL.

In the report, the Committee expressed its “firm belief that the Government should make a greater effort to complete the entire appointments process within the five-year window afforded it by current fixed-term appointments”, in light of the Government’s failure to appoint a successor to Lord Evans prior to the expiry of his term on 31 October.  

William Wragg MP, Chair of PACAC, said: “Following our pre-appointment hearing, the Committee is satisfied that Douglas Chalmers has the necessary integrity, judgement, and independence to be the next Chair of the Committee on Standards in Public Life and therefore endorse his appointment. We wish him well in his new role and look forward to continued engagement with him during his term.”