Page 13 - Member of Parliament Uk-handbook
P. 13

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                                                                       GuIdAnCE













        Standards in Public Life in its      Accountability
        First Report as applying to holders     Holders of public office are
                      1
        of public office.  These principles   accountable for their decisions
        will be taken into consideration     and actions to the public and must
        when any complaint is received of    submit themselves to whatever
        breaches of the provisions in other   scrutiny is appropriate to their
        sections of the Code.                office.
       Selflessness                          Openness
        Holders of public office should      Holders of public office should be
        take decisions solely in terms of the   as open as possible about all the
        public interest. They should not do   decisions and actions that they
        so in order to gain financial or other   take. They should give reasons
        material benefits for themselves,    for their decisions and restrict
        their family, or their friends.      information only when the wider
          Integrity                          public interest clearly demands.
        Holders of public office should      Honesty
        not place themselves under any       Holders of public office have a
        financial or other obligation to     duty to declare any private interests
        outside individuals or organisations   relating to their public duties and
        that might influence them in the     to take steps to resolve any conflicts
        performance of their official duties.   arising in a way that protects the
        Objectivity                          public interest.
        In carrying out public business,      Leadership
        including making public              Holders of public office should
        appointments, awarding contracts,    promote and support these
        or recommending individuals for      principles by leadership and
        rewards and benefits, holders of     example.
        public office should make choices
        on merit.


        1  Cm 2850-I, p 14.
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