Stop the nastiness in politics: MPs need a new Code Of Conduct

2020-04-15 15:11:00 +0100

Can we keep in touch?

We are honoured to be working with four amazing young campaigners - Lisa, Jaiden, Olivia, and Precious - from Manchester and the cross-party group More United to try and get a new code of conduct for MPs.

Our campaign was launched in response to the growing hostility and toxicity of debates in parliament. We believe that the tone set in parliament has a profound impact on the nature of debate across the country and on the respect given to different views. We simply cannot expect good laws to come from a broken system. 

So far in the campaign we have:

  • Gained over 65,000 signatures on our change.org petition
  • Had endorsement from over 100 MPs (see photo above of the signing event)
  • Met with the Committee on Standards in Public Life to talk through how the code of conduct can be adopted officially in parliament
  • Lisa, Jaiden, Olivia, and Precious met with the previous speaker of the Commons John Bercow and presented the petition to him.

We are currently in the process of arranging a meeting with the new speaker of the Commons Lindsay Hoyle and hope to use that to push for the code to be adopted formerly in parliament. 

Here is a copy of the code:

As your elected representatives, we should be the change we want to see. We pledge to uphold the code:

  1. Put country above political divides, avoid language or behaviour that incites hate or encourages disrespect, and to work together to build a more united country. 
  2. Reform debate as a way to build consensus: not as a way to tear each other down for political point-scoring but to speak with truth and integrity.
  3. Uphold a level of respect and professionalism between colleagues. We passed the laws that set the standards throughout our country’s workplaces. We need to be held equally accountable. 

 

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