A release from the Cabinet Office just now:
- “The Mandelson case has also shown more needs to be done and raised further questions about how the direct ministerial appointment process, and wider operation of government, can be strengthened.”
- Government will “look again” at financial interests of ministers and senior officials, lobbying transparency, and “whether the rules on post‑employment activity are fit for purpose in preventing unfair access to, or influence within, government.”
- Ethics and Integrity Commission will review financial disclosure arrangements and lobbying rules.
- Government will review the National Security Vetting system, “including lessons learned from Peter Mandelson’s developed vetting.”
- Ruth Anderson – formerly of Hope Not Hate – will “work on standards policy and to deliver the Government’s agenda on ethical standards and constitutional affairs.”
- Lords Conduct Committee will review the Code of Conduct. Ministers “also exploring whether the Committee can tighten rules on lobbying and paid advocacy to bring the Lords in line with the Commons.”
- Head of Mission and direct appointment processes to be reviewed.
Labour is using this tame first Mandelson dump to get ahead of criticism. And tighten control over Parliament to distract from Starmer’s incredibly poor judgement…
