‘Dishonesty epidemic infecting Tories’: Conference sparks fresh calls for rules to stop MPs lying
There are fresh calls to clean up politics with stronger rules around lying after senior Tories made false statements around meat taxes and 15-minute cities at their annual party conference.
Green MP Caroline Lucas told Sky News a “dishonesty epidemic is infecting the Tory party” as she called on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to acquaint himself with the Nolan Principles of public life – which include that holders of public office tell the truth.
These are not legally binding, but some MPs and academics believe they should be amid a collapse in public trust in UK politicians.
The debate has been reignited after a fractious Conservative Party Conference which, aside from the HS2 fiasco, has been dominated by accusations of MPs lying and peddling conspiracy theories.
Critics point to Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho claiming in a speech that Labour is “relaxed about taxing meat” – something which is not Labour Party policy.
Meanwhile Transport Secretary Mark Harper, in an attack on 15-minute cities, said we should not tolerate “the idea that local councils decide how often you go to the shops” – echoing a conspiracy theory about the planning concept that the government has previously debunked.
The independent charity Full Fact also raised concern about Mr Sunak describing inflation as a tax, saying that is “clearly not technically true”.
Science Secretary Michelle Donelan has also been accused of “making things up” after pledging to “kick woke ideology out of science” while Susan Hall, the Tory mayoral candidate for London, faced criticism for suggesting the Jewish community is scared of Sadiq Khan – a claim Jewish groups have strongly disputed.
It follows a speech Mr Sunak gave on net zero last month in which he claimed to have “scrapped” measures which were never government policy, such as a tax on flying and households being required to own seven bins.
‘Dishonesty epidemic’
Ms Lucas told Sky News: “A dishonesty epidemic is infecting the Tory party. Our political leaders’ socially-distanced relationship with the truth clearly didn’t end with Johnson’s ousting from office – over the past few weeks we’ve seen an escalation of fabrications, falsehoods and downright lies from Rishi Sunak’s government.
“If the prime minister isn’t acquainted with the seven Nolan Principles of public life – including that holders of public office should be truthful – then he shouldn’t be in public life at all.”
Ms Lucas is one of several MPs that supports a bill that would make it a criminal offence for politicians to deliberately lie. Polling by the cross-party group Compassion in Politics, which has drafted the legislation, shows three quarters of the public support the measure.
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Jennifer Nadel, co-director of Compassion in Politics said: “The last few days in Manchester really have put the con in conference.
“Rather than focusing on the major issues of the day – falling living standards, climate change, and crumbling schools – or giving a straight answer on the future of HS2, many Conservative MPs have tried to deflect attention by spreading lies and misinformation. It’s doing a huge disservice to the public and to the members of their own party who are tainted by association.”
‘No rules to prevent lying’
Ms Nadel said that “lying persists because we have no rules to prevent it” and “this has to change”.
She said their bill, if adopted, would bring politics into line with many other professions “which prohibit lying and deception”.
Labour MP Debbie Abrahams, who is the co-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Compassionate Politics, has also proposed a bill that would put the Ministerial Code on a statutory footing, making lying to the House of Commons a sackable offence.
She told Sky News: “Honesty and integrity should be the cornerstones of our politics but sadly they have been lacking at this week’s Conservative Party Conference.
“Genuine political disagreements are fair game but it is disappointing that the Tories are so devoid of ideas that they have resorted to making things up.”
Tory conference claims fact-checked
In her speech at the conference on Monday, Ms Coutinho said: “It’s no wonder that Labour seem so relaxed about taxing meat, Sir Keir Starmer doesn’t eat it, and Ed Miliband is clearly scarred by his encounter with a bacon sandwich.”
However, taxing meat is not Labour policy and the idea was rejected by Mr Miliband in 2021.
Ms Coutinho was repeatedly pressed about her comments on the Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge but was unable to provide any specific evidence or expand upon it, calling it a “light-hearted moment” then going onto talk about the ULEZ charge.
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‘That’s not a meat tax though, is it?’
Commenting on a clip of the exchange on X, former MEP and Conservative politician Charles Tannock said: “Make the Nolan principles statutory and restore public shame on those Ministers who deliberately deceive and lie to the public, otherwise the future and integrity of our precious democracy is in jeopardy.”
The Tories have also been called out over Mr Harper’s 15-minute city comments – including by Carlos Moreno, the academic who invented the concept.
The idea behind them is that everyone in cities should be a 15 minute walk or cycle away from basic amenities, but on Monday Mr Harper claimed they are being “misused” to restrict when people can go the shops and ration who uses roads.
However as pointed out by the charity Full Fact, there is no evidence that councils are attempting to place restrictions on how often residents can go to the shops, or their ability to choose which services they can access – something energy minister Andrew Bowie also suggested when asked about Mr Harper’s comments on BBC Radio Four.
The charity have rebuffed other claims made this week, including Mr Sunak saying in his speech on Wednesday that Labour’s immigration plan would lead to 100,000 asylum-seekers coming to the UK, which they said was an unreliable Conservative Party estimate.
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Steve Nowottny, editor at Full Fact, said this year has seen a “worrying trend” emerge across the political divide, with politicians making policies without putting them into context or supporting them with evidence.
“Trust in politics has been consistently low, and it is deeply disappointing when politicians of any party do not hold themselves to the highest possible standards of accuracy and fairness, as voters rightly expect them to ahead of the next general election,” he said.
Tories ‘party of fact’ insists minister
Last night, Science Secretary Ms Donelan insisted the Conservatives are “the party of fact” when a compilation of outlandish statements made by her colleagues was put to her on BBC Newsnight.
Presenter Victoria Derbyshire said: “There was never a proposal to use seven bins. We can’t find any council that wants to decide how often people can go to shops and Labour have never proposed taxing meat. They are untruths, they are fiction, they are completely and utterly made up and it’s really disrespectful to voters.”
But Ms Donelan said: “I genuinely believe we are the party of facts and evidence.”
The jailing of Mike Amesbury for 10 weeks for assault means Sir Keir Starmer potentially faces his first by-election test since becoming prime minister.
Officially, the 55-year-old former Labour MP for Runcorn and Helsby now faces a recall petition, but realistically he’s under enormous pressure to resign without delay.
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Amesbury was immediately disowned by the Labour Party, which condemned his actions in the assault as “completely unacceptable” and said it was time for a new MP.
“Local residents in the Runcorn and Helsby constituency deserved better, and we look forward to them getting the representation they deserved in the future with a new MP,” said a party spokesperson.
However, if Amesbury appeals against his sentence, as it’s being suggested he may, that would delay a by-election as a writ can’t be moved unless appeals are exhausted, or he stands down voluntarily.
Amesbury held the Cheshire seat with a seemingly healthy 14,696 majority at the July 2024 general election. But in a potential nightmare for Sir Keir, it was Reform UK – not the Conservatives – in second place.
Nigel Farage’s Reform UK leads the opinion polls. Pic: Reuters
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The current state of opinion polls, with Nigel Farage’s party edging ahead of Labour, suggests Reform will be in contention in a by-election and could pull off a sensational victory.
And so predictably it was Reform’s chairman Zia Yusuf who led calls from opponents for Amesbury to resign, followed by a handful of Tory backbenchers – but not by Kemi Badenoch yet.
“The great people of Runcorn deserve far better than waiting six weeks for a recall petition to take place,” said Mr Yusuf. “We call on Mike Amesbury to do the honourable thing and resign immediately.”
The risk of humiliation by Mr Farage may deter Labour big hitter Jonathan Ashworth – one of five Labour MPs defeated in July last year – from gambling on a quick return to Westminster in this seat.
The Conservatives appear to be in disarray over a potential by-election. Sky News can reveal that party HQ last week invited applications to be Tory candidate, with a deadline fast approaching.
“We are writing to invite applications for Runcorn and Helsby,” said a letter from the party’s candidates team. “We are particularly keen to see applications from people with links to the constituency.
“If you are eligible to stand and interested in applying, please apply through the Microsoft Form here and apply by no later than Tuesday 25th February at 12pm.”
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Suspended Labour MP Mike Amesbury. Pic: Reuters
When could a by-election happen?
A recall petition happens if an MP is jailed or receives a suspended sentence of a year or less. It lasts six weeks and if 10% of electors sign it, there’s a by-election – though the recalled MP can stand.
The last MP to be jailed was Tory Imran Ahmad Khan, former MP for Wakefield, who was sentenced to 18 months after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a 15-yar-old boy. Labour won that by-election.
Although Sir Keir and the Labour high command have acknowledged since Amesbury pleaded guilty that a by-election in Runcorn and Helsby was almost inevitable, the party faces a dilemma over the timing of a poll.
Labour’s statement looking forward to a new MP suggests the party favours a speedy by-election, without the delay of a recall petition, rather than waiting until the local elections on 1 May or even later.
But there are dangers in a quick poll, as Sir Keir will recall. He was advised to rush the Hartlepool by-election in 2021, with disastrous results, and he has admitted he considered quitting after that humiliating defeat.
Sir Keir Starmer had a good record in by-elections when Labour were in opposition. Pic: Reuters
The numbers in Runcorn and Helsby last July were Labour on 22,358 votes (52.94%), Reform 7,662, (18.14%), Conservatives 6,756, (16%), Greens 2,715, (6.43%) and Liberal Democrats 2,149, (5.09%).
Runcorn is on the southern bank of the River Mersey and has expanded as a new town since 1964, and dominates the constituency with a population of 61,000. There are two smaller towns, Frodsham and Helsby.
Amesbury became MP for the processor seat of Weaver Vale in 2017. He was a shadow minister for work and pensions under Jeremy Corbyn, and for housing, communities and local government under Sir Keir until 2022.
A teenager who admitted killing his mother and two younger siblings was plotting a school shooting, it can now be reported.
Nicholas Prosper, 19, appeared at Luton Crown Court over the deaths of Juliana Falcon, 48, Giselle Prosper, 13, and Kyle Prosper, 16.
Their bodies were found at a flat in Leabank, off Wauluds Bank Drive, Luton, in September.
As he appeared in court on Monday, Prosper spoke to confirm his identity and to plead guilty to three charges of murder.
Assistant Chief Constable John Murphy, from Bedfordshire Police, said: “We understand the deep shock this case will have on people within Luton and across the country.
“Juliana, Kyle and Giselle were brutally murdered in their home by someone intent on causing the maximum harm and distress on not only his family, but to the wider community.
“We are extremely grateful to our officers who stopped him and prevented him from going through with his plans to target a school.
“We are working closely alongside Luton Borough Council to engage with schools in Luton to provide support, assistance and guidance to both schools and parents.”
Giselle Prosper (left), Juliana Falcon (centre), Kyle Prosper (right). Pic: Family pictures via Bedfordshire Police
Leader of Luton Council, Hazel Simmons MBE, branded the murders as “senseless” and said their thoughts were with the victims, their family and friends.
She then said the “revelation that the perpetrator had plans to cause further harm in one of our schools is extremely shocking, distressing and upsetting”.
The councillor sought to reassure parents by saying “our schools have robust systems in place to keep children safe and security is constantly reviewed and monitored”.
After recently asking schools to review their security, Ms Simmons said schools will be asked to further review their measures in light of what emerged from court on Monday.
“On behalf of the town I would like to thank and praise the excellent work of Bedfordshire Police for apprehending the perpetrator before he attempted to cause more harm.
“However, we know this case will be unsettling for parents which is why the council is working with schools to put support in place in our schools to anyone who needs it.”
Prosper also admitted a number of other offences, including purchasing a shotgun without a certificate, possession of a shotgun with intent to endanger life and possession of a kitchen knife in a public place.
He will be sentenced on 5 March and has been remanded in custody.
‘A cold-blooded attack’
Chris Derrick, a deputy chief crown prosecutor at the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), said the victims’ lives “were stolen in a cold-blooded attack”.
Mr Derrick said in a statement “the full extent of Prosper’s actions will be laid bare when he is sentenced, and he can expect to face a very long time behind bars”.
He added: “We hope today’s conviction offers some solace to those who loved and cared for them, as they mourn their loss.”
A friend of Ms Falcon previously described her as someone who “lived for her children” and said she was “a positive person who will be so terribly missed”.
A previous statement on X from the headteacher at Lea Manor High School said they were “deeply shocked” by the death of Giselle.
“Giselle was a beautiful soul and a model pupil, she excelled in all her subjects and will be sorely missed, particularly by her friends in Year 9.”
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Kyle’s school described the incident as “devastating” and offered “heartfelt condolences” to his family.
A previous statement issued by Cardinal Newman Catholic School said: “This is devastating news to all those who knew and loved Kyle and it will take some time to come to terms with the profound sense of loss.
“We know this will be a difficult time for students and staff and we will do all we can to support them with love and compassion.
“We extend our heartfelt condolences to Kyle’s family on their immeasurable loss, to his friends and to all those in neighbouring schools who are coming to terms with their own loss.”
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