Here’s a quick look at recent inquiries relating to senior politicians’ behaviour and whether we can expect them to act with integrity.
I found a few descriptions of what constitutes integrity:
‘Holding yourself accountable and owning up to your shortcomings.’
‘The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles.’
‘Selflessness; putting the needs of others above your own needs.’
Last week the outgoing Deputy Prime Minister, Dominic Raab, resigned following an investigation into his behaviour towards the staff working with him. The inquiry found that he was ‘intimidating’ and ‘persistently aggressive’ towards officials. Demonstrating a lack of integrity, Mr Raab denied that he was a bully, and instead blamed the senior civil servants who had brought recent complaints, saying, effectively, that they were conspiring against him. Unable to admit to his shortcomings, he claimed that the investigation’s findings were flawed.
Mr Raab’s attitude was reminiscent of Boris Johnson’s comments following the ‘Partygate’ hearing, when he inferred that if the committee found against him, he could not guarantee that he would accept their decision. Mr Johnson’s lack of engagement with the attributes of ‘honesty’ or ‘strong moral principle’ is too knotty to tackle here in a few words.
On Friday 21st April I joined people in London demonstrating against fossil fuels and the hold that these multi billion-pound companies have over us and, indeed, over the whole planet. I was lucky enough to hear Caroline Lucas, the longstanding Green Party MP, speaking about the need for honesty and openness about who influences those making decisions about our futures. She was speaking outside 55 Tufton St, the base for so called ‘thinktanks’, lobbyists who won’t reveal the sources of their funding. It is known that some are tobacco firms, oil firms and foreign oligarchs. They are advising our government about their policy making, influencing them to place the interests of the extremely rich above the interests of our nation. Caroline is part of a cross-party group of parliamentarians taking legal action against what happens at Tufton St.
Those in power are not acting to put the needs of the country above their own needs but we do have politicians fighting to restore integrity. Over many years of hard work, Caroline has won respect from all parties. She has won awards from different groups and organisations, including three times being voted the UK’s most ethical politician. Maybe, just maybe, it’s time for a change.
Cathy Grout
Published in Local Newspapers 23.4.23
