Standards watchdog urges party leaders to foster civil debate during election

The chair of the Committee on Standards in Public Life has written to party leaders urging them to keep standards in public life "front of mind" as the general election draws closer in order to discourage personal abuse and intimidation of candidates.

Doug Chalmers called upon the leaders of 12 UK political parties to "set clear expectations" about the standards of conduct expected of their campaign team, election agents and candidates during the election period. 

In a letter, he wrote: "Setting the right tone will help foster civil debate in campaigning and reduce the sort of personal abuse and intimidation of candidates for public office that we have seen in recent years."

He noted that robust debate is a vital part of the democratic process but said candidates should express disagreement in a "civil manner" and that inflammatory language and actions should not be tolerated.

The chair encouraged the party leaders to promote among their candidates the parties' own codes of conduct, adding that they "might also" refer to the committee's statement on conduct of political party members the committee developed alongside The Jo Cox Foundation.

He added: "The statement is set within the context of the Nolan Principles of Public Life - selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership. These Principles are a personal responsibility for all those in public life and have long been the basis for ensuring high standards in the public sector. These Principles set the standards that the public will expect candidates to uphold if elected."

The chair added: "Political parties play a central role in our democracy and have important responsibilities towards their candidates and members, and more widely to the general public whom they wish to serve. 

"In the forthcoming election, as the leader of your party, you will have a major influence on the quality and civility of public debate - both in person and online - through the conduct of your candidates, campaign teams and election agents. We urge you to ensure that they recognise their responsibility to promote civility and the core values of our political system."

The letter was sent to the leaders of the Conservative Party, the Labour Party, the SNP, the Liberal Democrat Party, the Democratic Unionist Party, Plaid Cymru, the Alba Party, the Social Democratic & Labour Party, the Green Party, the Alliance Party, Reform UK, and the Workers Party of Britain.

The chair of the CSPL has also issued an open letter to all parliamentary candidates, in which he said that the tone of political debate "matters greatly", especially in electoral campaigns.

He said: "We do not underestimate the intense nature of election campaigns and we must recognise that robust debate is a vital and important part of the democratic process.

"However, it is vitally important that disagreement should be expressed in a civil manner. As a candidate, your actions and words will inevitably influence wider public discourse and political culture and have implications for the public’s views on and trust in our democratic institutions. That is why we are writing to express our hope for a civil and respectful campaign during the forthcoming general election, to underscore the standards expected of all those in public life, and to encourage you to engage in constructive debate, which does not resort to personal attacks or divisive rhetoric which we have seen in recent years."

The letter to candidates added that acting in accordance with the Seven Principles of Public Life (the Nolan Principles) "sends a powerful message to the electorate about the importance you attach to acting in the public interest"

Adam Carey