MPs are being held to a much higher transparency standard than those who wield the most power. This is bonkers
- Chris Bryant is the Labour MP for Rhondda and chair of the standards committee
This parliament is proving to be a shocker. Since the general election in December 2019, 18 MPs have been suspended from the House of Commons for a day or more or jumped before they were pushed – and the parliament could run for another two years yet. That beats every other parliament in history into a cocked hat. True, that is in part because for the first time ever we are not brushing bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct under the lurid Pugin carpet.
Such matters used to be kept from the prying eyes of the public but, thank goodness, our expectations have changed. There is now a fully independent and confidential body, the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme, which investigates complaints, and an independent expert panel chaired by the former high court judge Sir Stephen Irwin, which adjudicates on individual cases.
Chris Bryant is the Labour MP for Rhondda and chair of the standards committee
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