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The UK's Seven Principles of Public Life

In a functioning democracy, politicians and officials cannot just do whatever they please. Instead, they must comply with the principles of competent and fair administration.

In the UK, these principles are set out as Nolan's Seven Principles of Public Life. They were first put forward by the Committee on Standards in Public Life in its 1995 Report [1], and have since been restated in the Committee's 2016 Report Striking the balance [2], which reviewed the various regulators.

The Principles are

The following is an excerpt from the 2016 report (from page 5):
The Seven Principles of Public Life
The Principles of public life apply to anyone who works as a public office-holder. This includes all those who are elected or appointed to public office, nationally and locally, and all people appointed to work in the civil service, local government, the police, courts and probation services, NDPBs, and in the health, education, social and care services. All public office-holders are both servants of the public and stewards of public resources. The principles also have application to all those in other sectors delivering public services.

Selflessness
Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest.

Integrity
Holders of public office must avoid placing themselves under any obligation to people or organisations that might try inappropriately to influence them in their work. They should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family, or their friends. They must declare and resolve any interests and relationships.

Objectivity
Holders of public office must act and take decisions impartially, fairly and on merit, using the best evidence and without discrimination or bias.

Accountability
Holders of public office are accountable to the public for their decisions and actions and must submit themselves to the scrutiny necessary to ensure this.

Openness
Holders of public office should act and take decisions in an open and transparent manner. Information should not be withheld from the public unless there are clear and lawful reasons for so doing.

Honesty
Holders of public office should be truthful.

Leadership
Holders of public office should exhibit these principles in their own behaviour. They should actively promote and robustly support the principles and be willing to challenge poor behaviour wherever it occurs.

Comment

It seems that these principles are widely ignored, and that departures from competent and fair administration are commonly tolerated by citizens.

References

[1]Committee on Standards in Public Life (1995) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-7-principles-of-public-life/the-7-principles-of-public-life--2
[2]Committee on Standards in Public Life (2016) Striking the Balance: Upholding the Seven Principles of Public Life in Regulation https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/554817/Striking_the_Balance__web__-_v3_220916.pdf


First published: Aug 2019
Last updated: 26 Jul 2023