The Seven Principles of Public Life, also known as the Nolan Principles, set out how senior management and politicians, as well as those in public office, should act. They were brought in to help establish the ethical standards of public life, in 1995, at a time when the then Conservative government of John Major was rocked by scandals.
The principles are selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty, and leadership. These are the standards by which politicians and senior officials are expected to conduct themselves.
Resignations a thing of the past
In the past, politicians and senior officials of major public institutions would resign almost immediately when a mistake was made either by them or under their watch. In recent years, this practice has seemingly fallen away and been replaced with prevarication, and not a hint of the word, ‘Sorry’ or a sense of genuine contrition.
Examples are widespread and raise questions of whether those involved are following the principles or feel that they actually apply to them.
Having caused mayhem to television schedules over the suspension of Gary Lineker, the BBC director general, Tim Davie, issued a statement, which was long on explanation, but missing the word, ‘Sorry’.
The recent publication of the Baroness Casey report into the culture of the Metropolitan Police made for harrowing reading. The Metropolitan Police commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, published a letter accepting all of its findings. In over five hundred words, he used ‘sorry’, just once. He then gave interviews where he objected to the term, ‘institutionally racist’, despite it being a central conclusion in the report.
Johnson not genuinely sorry
When former Prime Minister Boris Johnson gave evidence under oath to the Select Committee on 22 March 2023, ‘sorry’, was used eighteen times, two thirds of which were said by Johnson himself. Although he did apologise for ‘inadvertently’ misleading the House of Commons, not once was the word, ‘sorry’ used in any sentence linked to that apology.
He is not alone, for it is in politicians that ‘sorry’ truly does seem to be the hardest word.
On 15 May 2022, Nadine Dorries, in her role as the then culture, media and sport secretary, spoke about her time on the Channel 4 television Show, ‘Tower Block of Commons’ in February 2010. What followed was covered in an EAB Article last year but, in the end, the committee stated that they had not found any corroboration to claims she made about the production of the programme. Unimpressed by her lack of credibility, the committee took the highly unusual step of saying they were disappointed that she had not corrected the record.
Despite this, she has not said sorry for misleading the committee or for the distress she caused with her original statement. She also has not repeated it outside parliament, where her words would have some legal recourse against her.
Ms Dorries is not alone. Her former cabinet colleague, Matt Hancock, has not said sorry for his involvement in the PPE scandal. He did, however, say ‘sorry’ for the leak of his WhatsApp messages, and after he was caught breaking Covid rules to kiss Gina Coladangelo, for which he was forced to resign.
No apology for Thurrock’s woes
There are also examples at local levels. Politicians sometimes give apologies, and often even say sorry for their part in a scandal, but seem reluctant to actually resign.
A recent example was described in an EAB article about Thurrock council in Essex, that required a government bailout of over a half a billion pounds after having to declare bankruptcy with debts of £1.5bn. It has had to increase the council tax rate to 9.9%, almost double the normal maximum, to raise enough money for the restructuring of the council.
Acting leader of the council, Conservative Mark Coxshall, did say sorry, but he was deputy leader when the poor investments which led to the crisis were made. Current deputy, Councillor Deborah Arnold, and former Finance Portfolio holder, Councillor Shane Hebb, were all part of the cabinet that approved the borrowing, and mocked opposition calls for scrutiny. All are seeking re-election.
The seven principles of public life apply to the actions of all of the above. They were put in place at a time of scandal and lack of trust in both government and some public institutions in order to help restore faith. As a new generation of politicians and public officials continue to seemingly ignore them, is it any wonder that according to recent polling, they are trusted less than estate agents, bankers and journalists, with only 18% trusting politicians to tell the truth.
It feels a lot like history repeating itself.
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