Standards watchdog 'too timid'

Sir Christopher denied taking a too softly softly approach

The body which polices standards in public life is too timid and should be more "swashbuckling" in its approach to probing wrongdoing, MPs have said.

Sleaze watchdog Sir Christopher Kelly must "fight the cause of the public" more if cynicism about politics was to be tackled, they added.

Sir Christopher denied complacency and said one way of boosting trust was to ensure proper sanctions for misconduct.

He became chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life in late 2007.

'Strong action'

MPs are concerned about low levels of public trust in politics and that recent scandals involving their expenses and allegations of corruption in the House of Lords have tainted public perceptions of Parliament.

Appearing before the Commons public administration committee, Sir Christopher was urged to be "more like" his predecessor Sir Alistair Graham, whose contract was not renewed in 2007 after reportedly angering No 10 over his tough stance on some issues.

I want you to distinguish between parliamentarians and people in public office who have a very strong view about personal behaviour, standards and ethics and those who don't Kelvin Hopkins

Instead, MPs said Sir Christopher's recent comments about standards in public life smacked of "quietism on behalf of the political establishment rather than swashbuckling on behalf of the public and the public interest".

"I want you to distinguish between parliamentarians and people in public office who have a very strong view about personal behaviour and personal standards and ethics and those who don't," said Labour MP Kelvin Hopkins.

"When people say we are all at it with our snouts in the trough and I have not, I want some strong action to be taken to ensure people who do transgress are taken to task."

Sir Christopher, a former top civil servant, said he was "determined to do things in his own way" and denied taking a softly-softly approach to upholding standards.

"There are several ways of affecting trust," he said.

"One is by doing things which actually improve standards so people's trustworthiness improves.

"The other is actually making sure people do understand what happens when people offend and making it visible that if people offend against the non-paid for advocacy rules in the House of Lords then proper sanctions are exercised against them."

Pressed on whether his committee should look at reform of the additional costs allowance, which allows MPs to claim up to