Senior judge’s review of fairness in parliamentary standards system published

4 Mar 2022 02:04 PM

The Committee on Standards publishes Sir Ernest Ryder’s review of fairness and natural justice within the House of Commons standards system. Sir Ernest is a former Senior President of Tribunals and Lord Justice of Appeal. He will give evidence to the Committee on Tuesday 8 March.

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The Committee commissioned Sir Ernest to carry out this review following the publication of their November 2021 report making proposals for a revised Code of Conduct.

In his wide-ranging review, Sir Ernest discusses issues of fairness and natural justice in the context of parliamentary privilege, the relationship between Parliament and the courts, and human rights legislation. In an annex, he provides responses to specific questions posed by the Committee. Sir Ernest has focussed particularly on the handling of complaints of breaches of the MPs’ Code of Conduct which are within the remit of the Committee (rather than complaints of bullying, harassment or sexual misconduct which are dealt with under the House’s Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme).

Sir Ernest’s conclusions and recommendations include the following:

Sir Ernest Ryder will be giving public evidence to the Committee to discuss his report on Tuesday 8 March. This evidence session can be watched live on Parliament TV.

In response to the review, the Committee on Standards have published a short report that launches a consultation period, inviting comments from within Parliament, members of the public and external organisations. This consultation period will close on Monday 28th March 2021.

The Committee will take into account consultation responses in making decisions on Sir Ernest's proposals. They will then put a package of proposals to the House for changes to the House’s standards system, which take into account Sir Ernest’s review and feedback on it, as well as proposals arising from the November 2021 report on the Code of Conduct and the consultation which followed that.

Chair's comment

Chris Bryant MP, Chair of the Committee on Standards, recently said:

“I welcome Sir Ernest Ryder’s thorough review into the Standards system and thank him for the work he has done.

“The Committee remains committed to reviewing and further improving our processes, and I am now looking forward to the consultation process on his proposals and being able to put a package of reforms to the House in order to change our Standards system for the better.”

Further information