Please let us know your thoughts or alternative viewpoint- We will only publish your name with your express permission

Hands up everyone who feel that those chosen or elected to represent and act in our interest don’t actually meet their required level of competence. Wow! that’s a lot! They promise much and deliver little, they lie and distort the truth, they hide the truth from us and don’t tell the truth. They are in it for themselves etc. etc. Hands up those who feel this is their personal experience of those in public life! Wow,again! Don’t you just wish they could be held accountable for their actions ? Well, we can tell you a secret- they can because they all sign up to something called the Nolan Principles of public service!!!!!

Essentially the Principles are the basis of the ethical standards expected of public office holders, which would include even school staff. They were first set out by Lord Nolan in 1995 in the first report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life and they are included in a range of Codes of Conduct across public life. What are the Nolan Principles? The GOV.UK website explains the Seven Principles of Public Life (also known as the Nolan Principles) 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, non- departmental public bodies (NDPBs), and in the health, education, social and care services. We outline the Principles below: 1 Selflessness Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest 2 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 3 Objectivity Holders of public office must act and take decisions impartially, fairly and on merit, using the best evidence and without discrimination or bias 4 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 5 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 6 Honesty Holders of public office should be truthful 7 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. Measure these principle when you next listen to, speak with, or interaction with any person covred by these principles then decide whether they are meeting any or all of the required principles of public life. Use the quick score card whenever you hear any public person who opens their mouths or takes action and it will open your eyes as to our so called leaders and representatives, Give it a try-open your eyes. listen with this as your yard stick to measure them.

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