Downward spiral : collapsing public standards and how to restore them / John Bowers.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Bowers, John, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Political ethics--Great Britain.

Political ethics.

Great Britain--Politics and government--2007-.

Great Britain.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xii, 299 pages) : digital file(s).

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

Manchester, UK : Manchester University Press, 2024.

Language Note:

In English.

System Details:

Mode of access: World Wide Web.

data file

Biography/History:

John Bowers KC is Principal of Brasenose College, University of Oxford. He was called to the Bar in 1979 and took silk in 1998. Described as 'an employment law rock star', he is the author of fifteen books, including <i>Bowers on Employment Law</i>, <i>The Law of Industrial Action</i> and <i>Trade Union Recognition and Whistleblowing</i>. He is a former chair of Bar Disciplinary Summary Tribunals and a member of the Bar Council's Race Relations Committee. Since 2005 he has been a Bencher of Middle Temple.

Summary:

The Johnson era will be remembered for a series of scandals that severely eroded trust in the British government. From questionable PPE tenders and public appointments to the ‘partygate’ fiasco, every aspect of public life seemed tainted. How did this downward spiral begin, and what can be done to reverse it? In this eye-opening book, veteran KC John Bowers presents a fearless examination of the decline in ethical standards before, during and after the Johnson government. He focuses on the institutions responsible for holding the government accountable, exposing how they have been bypassed by prime ministers determined to impose their agenda. Through interviews with political insiders, Bowers provides analysis of scandals such as partygate, Greensill and the revolving door with the private sector. He shines a light on a culture of favouritism, where standards are upheld based on little more than the assumption those in power can be trusted to behave. Rishi Sunak entered Number 10 on the promise of restoring integrity, but it is clear major problems remain. Confronting the failings of the current system, Downward spiral presents concrete proposals for creating an alternative that is more transparent and accountable.

Contents:

Front Matter

Epigraph

Contents

Prologue

I Setting the scene

1 Introduction

2 A brief history of standards in public life

3 Boris Johnson and the downward spiral

II The ethical regulators

4 The Independent Adviser on Ministers’ Interests

5 The public appointments system and the Commissioner for Public Appointments

6 The Advisory Committee on Business Appointments

7 Appointments to the House of Lords

8 Party funding and the Electoral Commission

9 The Committee on Standards in Public Life and National Audit Office

10 The Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists and the vast lobbying industry

11 The Civil Service Commission

III Cross-cutting issues

12 MPs for hire

13 Anatomy of a recent scandal

14 Greensill

IV Conclusion

15 Conventions, the rule of law and declining standards

16 Conclusion

Appendix

List of abbreviations

Acknowledgements

Notes

Select bibliography

Index

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 285-287) and index.

Description based on publisher-supplied metadata and e-publication, viewed November 20, 2024.

ISBN:

9781526167477

1526167476

9781526167484

1526167484

OCLC:

1430321644