Great to respond on behalf of the government in a Westminster Hall Debate on the effectiveness of the Nolan Principles in Local Government. These principles – selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty, and leadership – are the least local people deserve from their representatives and are essential for ensuring that local councils are working in the best interests of the people they serve.
We need to make sure these values aren’t just words on paper. Councils should be living and breathing them in everything they do, from decision-making to delivering frontline public services. The public must feel that they can have confidence in their local leaders, and we need to strengthen accountability to make sure the highest standards are upheld for councillors of every stripe.
Ensuring the standards regime has the teeth to be able to enforce a more explicit code-of-conduct with proper independent scrutiny is vital, especially given local concerns about recent behaviour at Oldham Council.
There have been growing issues with opposition councillors disrupting meetings and failing to show the respect needed for proper debate. Our community deserves better. We must all work together, regardless of party affiliation, to create a council that sets a positive example, upholds the highest standards of behaviour, and focuses on what’s best for our borough.
From restructuring local government, to devolving more powers to communities and increasing accountability for those deliver services; Labour is working towards building a local government system that everyone can be proud of.
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Jim McMahon OBE MP 