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Why Respect is Key
One of the nine key principles of public life in Scotland is that of respect. Councillors and members of devolved public bodies are expected to behave in a respectful manner towards their colleagues, employees and members of the public, and to treat them with courtesy at all times. If they fail to do so, they run the risk of being found in breach of their respective
To share or not to share!
To share or not to share – that is the question! One of the key principles of public life in Scotland is openness. This places a duty on politicians and individuals appointed to public positions to be as open and transparent as possible about their decisions and actions. It requires them to give reasons for decisions and to only restrict information if there is a wider public interest in doing so. So does this mean that the public is entitled to all informatio...
Consultation on Revised Guidance
The Standards Commission is currently seeking feedback on Guidance it has drafted to support both the revised Councillors’ and Model Codes of Conduct, which are shortly to be put before Parliament for approval. The draft Guidance, Codes and information on how to provide feedback can be found on the ‘Consultations’ page of this...
Holding Hearings in Public
Why hold Hearings in Public? One of the Standards Commission’s main responsibilities is to hold Hearings to decide whether or not councillors and board members of devolved public bodies have breached their Codes of Conduct. These Hearings are held in public, either in person, or online. If they are held online, they are simultaneously livestreamed on the Standards Commission’s website. But why all the exposure? It’s understandable if there has...
Respect is Still Key
The tragic death of Sir David Amess MP last month brought sharp focus on the security of our elected politicians and others in public life. It also provoked questions about the tone of public debate and highlighted the need for respect across the entire political spectrum. Our July blog post, “Why Respect is Key”, sought...
Standard Training Presentations on the Revised Codes of Conducts
Revised Codes of Conduct: Standard Presentations The Scottish Parliament has approved revised Codes of Conduct for Councillors and Members of Devolved Public Bodies. These are due to be issued and published on 7 December 2021. The Standards Commission has produced the following standard presentations to assist with training on the revised Codes: The revised Councillors' Code of Conduct (2021)The revised Model Code of Conduct for Members of Devolved Public...
New Codes of Conduct Issued
The Codes of Conduct for councillors and members of devolved public bodies in Scotland have been strengthened to make it clear that behaviour such as bullying and harassment is completely unacceptable. Provisions relating to the acceptance of gifts and hospitality have also been tightened to ensure that individuals do not try to profit from their position as a councillor or board member, and to ensure they are not being improperly influenced. Further, a new three-stage...
Honesty and Trust
It’s fair to say there has been a great deal of press coverage recently about the honesty of our leaders. The conduct of politicians and others in public life is under intense scrutiny, with many questions asked of their integrity. Of course, putting a “spin” on matters is seen as part and parcel of politics. There is, however, a difference between highlighting issues or facts to suit your argument (or omitting to talk about on...
Audit Scotland’s Section 22 Report on the Ethical Standards Commissioner - Statement from the Standards Commission for Scotland
Audit Scotland today published a Section 22 report on the Ethical Standards Commissioner (ESC). The report can be found at: https://www.audit-scotland.gov.uk/report/the-202021-audit-of-the-commissioner-for-ethical-standards-in-public-life-in-scotland Reports are prepared by the Auditor General under Section 22 of the Public Finance and Accou...
