New Standards Watchdog States MPs Not Required to Be ‘Saints’

The newly appointed chair of the Commons standards committee, Conservative Alberto Costa, has stated that Members of Parliament should not be anticipated to be “saints”. In an interview with The House magazine, he advocated for reduced severity in penalties for minor rule infractions, proposing that MPs should not be compelled to “stand up and publicly apologise” for a “minor failing” at work that does not involve corruption. Members of Parliament are required to adhere to a stringent code of conduct that covers lobbying, remuneration for parliamentary advice, and the declaration of interests, alongside maintaining Parliament’s reputation. Violations of these regulations can lead to an MP being investigated, with the cross-party standards committee responsible for deciding sanctions in significant instances. The standards committee’s chair is invariably a member of the primary opposition party in the Commons. Costa assumed this position in September, having been elected by a vote of all MPs, succeeding Labour’s Harriet Harman. In June 2023, Costa served as one of four Conservative members on the Commons privileges committee, which unanimously concluded that former Prime Minister Boris Johnson had intentionally misled Parliament regarding coronavirus lockdown gatherings at Downing Street. During his interview with The House magazine, Costa indicated that former SNP MP Margaret Ferrier had received excessively harsh treatment. Ferrier was suspended from Parliament for 30 days for violating Covid lockdown regulations and subsequently lost her seat in a by-election initiated by a recall petition. She had traveled by train from London to Glasgow after a positive virus test, was later prosecuted, and received community service. Costa posited that this situation did not represent corruption, but rather, “there go I but for the grace of God.” He further remarked that “with a bit of compassion you might understand why she’d done what she did.” Costa informed The House that it was “generally right” for MPs to be “held to a higher standard.” However, he cautioned that this standard should not be so elevated “that you are requiring saints to stand forward for election.” The MP for South Leicestershire commented: “I am not and never have been a saint. I am a fallible human being like anyone else. To err is human.” Furthermore, Costa contended that accusations of bullying – which have led to inquiries and departures of prominent MPs – constitute a type of misconduct that could be handled confidentially. He stated: “I would have thought that if you were to complain at your place of work, they would try and mediate in private. They would say ‘look what’s happened here?’, and maybe get a private apology from the person.” He expressed apprehension that “it might be a little bit too easy to complain that an MP is bullied, or somebody else is bullied.” In 2020, an Independent Expert Panel assumed oversight for instances of bullying, harassment, or sexual misconduct involving MPs. Costa also mentioned that the public desires “more normal people” to “represent us, that look like us, that act like us. Well, when you put a mirror up to society, you’re going to get all sorts of people.” He elaborated: “One of the things I’m not very comfortable with is when an MP commits an administrative error – a really minor error where they fail to disclose a modest interest – and they breach the 28-day limit [to declare it]. It’s very easy to do that.” The standards committee was established in 2012 to monitor the conduct of MPs, following the expenses scandal. Seven of its 14 members, constituting half, are individuals from outside Parliament.