Rayner’s ‘Ethics and Integrity Commission’ Does Not Exist – Guido Fawkes

REVEALED: Rayner’s ‘Ethics and Integrity Commission’ Does Not Exist

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In Labour’s election manifesto the top policy for the section titled “Serving the Country” was “A new Ethics and Integrity Commission.” Finally a break for Laurie Magnus…

“Labour will restore confidence in government and ensure ministers are held to the highest standards. We will establish a new independent Ethics and Integrity Commission, with its own independent Chair, to ensure probity in government.”

Angela Rayner had been hankering for a new standards body since 2021 – the party briefed that it would replace Acoba. Once Labour got in Pat McFadden said in the Commons: “This was an important manifesto commitment. We will establish a new independent ethics and integrity commission, with its own independent chair, to ensure the highest possible standards. Work has begun on that.“ Doesn’t look like it nine months later…

Guido fired an FoI to the Cabinet Office to ask what the terms of reference for the new Commission were, how many staff made it up, and how many times it had met with ministers since 5 July. All of which comes back with ‘no record’…

Acoba continues unabated. After some months of sleaze and scandal it looks like there is no rush to set up an independent body to scrutinise the probity of Labour ministers. Wonder why…