CORRUPTION

DETAILS

ELECTION CANDIDACY ACT 2029

“A BILL TO Regulate the selection of parliamentary candidates to ensure local representation and restrict the imposition of centrally selected candidates."

SECTION 1: DEFINITIONS

1. For the purposes of this Act:

• A “parachute candidate” means a candidate who:

  • (a) has not been a registered voter or resident in the constituency or neighbouring constituency for at least 36 months prior to selection, or;

  • (b) has held a paid role (including as a political adviser, party official, or lobbyist) within a political party, government, or parliamentary office in the 36 months prior to selection.

• An “open selection” means a competitive process where:

  • (a) All eligible candidates may apply;

  • (b) At least three candidates are shortlisted;

  • (c) The final selection is made by a vote of local party members or, at the party’s discretion, all registered voters in the constituency.

SECTION 2: MANDATORY OPEN SELECTIONS

• No candidate, including sitting MPs, may stand for election for a political party in any constituency unless they have been selected through an open selection process as defined in Clause 1.

• No exemptions shall apply for by-elections, early elections, or incumbent MPs.

SECTION 3: BAN ON PARACHUTE CANDIDATES

• No political party may select a parachute candidate (as defined in Clause 1) for any parliamentary constituency.

• Any selection process involving a parachute candidate is void, and the party must rerun the selection.

SECTION 4: ENFORCEMENT & PENALTIES

• The Electoral Commission shall oversee compliance and investigate complaints.

• If a party breaches this Act:

  • (a) The Commission may disqualify the candidate from standing for that party in the constituency;

  • (b) The party may be fined up to 1% of its annual income for each breach.

SECTION 5: TRANSPARENCY REQUIREMENTS

• Political parties must publish:

  • (a) The full list of applicants for each selection;

  • (b) The voting results of any selection process.

• Failure to comply shall void the selection.

SECTION 6: COMMENCEMENT

• This Act comes into force three months after Royal Assent.

JOB DESCRIPTION FOR MPS

Job Title: Member of Parliament (MP)

Location: Constituency & Westminster
Accountable To: Constituents & Parliament
Contract: Fixed-term (up to 5 years, subject to re-election)

MANDATORY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:

• Minimum Work Experience Requirement:

  • Must have worked at least 5 years in non-political employment, with at least 2 years in a job paying less than/equal to national median wage (or equivalent self-employment/voluntary sector experience).

  • Exemptions only for:

    • Full-time carers (minimum 3 years).

    • Military/veteran service (minimum 3 years).

    • Disability accommodations (case-by-case review).

• Psychological & Ethical Fitness:

  • Pass a pre-election psychological assessment evaluating resilience, empathy, compassion, and conflict resolution.

  • No history of gross misconduct (e.g. fraud, harassment) in prior roles.

• Residency & Connection to Constituency:

  • Must have lived or worked in the constituency (or adjacent area) for 3+ years before election.

• Financial Transparency:

  • Must sell all shares, investments, portfolios etc. No trusts permitted.

  • Prohibited from buying shares (or equivalent) during Parliamentary career and for 2 years afterwards.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. GROUNDED POLICY DEVELOPMENT

• Use personal experience in ordinary workplaces to inform debates on wages, welfare, and public services.

• Consult constituents with direct experience of policies (e.g., teachers on education reform, nurses on NHS issues).

2. CONSTITUENCY REPRESENTATION

• Minimum 12 surgeries per year & quarterly town halls.

• Work 6 "constituency days" in a local job annually (e.g., shadowing a care worker, teacher, or small business owner).

3. TRANSPARENCY & ACCOUNTABILITY

• Publish tax returns, all earnings, and meeting logs with lobbyists (within 24 hours).

• Face annual public Q&A panels with randomly selected constituents.

4. ETHICAL CONDUCT

• Ban on paid advisory/consultancy roles (exceptions only for non-profit/public service work and/or to keep socially-beneficial qualifications (medical, teaching etc.) that need to be kept up-to-date, capped at £5k/year).

• Mandatory "cooling-off period" of 5 years before being allowed to work for any company that has officially or unofficially lobbied them.

PERFORMANCE REVIEW & RECALL:

1. CONSTITUENCY ENGAGEMENT & REPRESENTATION

Quantitative:

• Surgery Attendance: Minimum 12 in-person/remote surgeries per year (tracked via public logs).

• Response Rate: 90%+ of constituent emails/calls answered within 10 working days (audited quarterly).

• Town Halls Held: Minimum 4 public accountability meetings/year (with attendance records).

• Constituent Satisfaction: Bi-annual survey (e.g., "How well does your MP represent you?" scored 1–5).

• Local Visits: Minimum 24 days/year spent in schools, local hospitals, local businesses, or charities (logged publicly) shadowing staff to get first-hand experience of problems.

Qualitative:

• Evidence of advocating for constituent needs in Parliament (e.g., speeches, questions, or bills tied to local issues).

• Proactive outreach to marginalized groups (e.g., hosting forums with disabled residents, minority communities).

2. PARLIAMENTARY ACTIVITY & LEGISLATIVE IMPACT

Quantitative:

• Voting Attendance: 85%+ of votes in Parliament (excluding approved absences).

• Committee Participation: Active role in at least one committee/subgroup (measured by attendance & contributions).

• Bills/Amendments Proposed: Minimum of 1 original bill / 5 substantive amendments per year for backbenchers.

• Debate Participation: Speeches/interventions in 10+ debates per year on key constituency/national issues.

Qualitative:

• Collaboration across parties on bipartisan issues (e.g., co-sponsoring bills with opposition MPs).

• Quality of legislative contributions (e.g., expert witnesses cite their work, amendments improve laws).

3. TRANSPARENCY & ACCOUNTABILITY

Quantitative:

• Expenses Compliance: 100% adherence to IPSA rules (no breaches or corrections required).

• Lobbyist Meetings: All meetings with paid lobbyists/interest groups disclosed within 24 hours (should be minuted by neutral member of Parliamentary staff).

• Public Reports: Quarterly updates on parliamentary work and annual "MP Report Card" (published online).

Qualitative:

• Willingness to admit mistakes and correct misinformation (e.g., public corrections of false claims).

• Engagement with fact-checkers/journalists to clarify policy positions.

4. ETHICAL CONDUCT & PSYCHOLOGICAL FITNESS

Quantitative:

• Training Completed: Annual ethics, mental health, and anti-harassment training (mandatory).

• Complaints Record: Zero upheld complaints of bullying, harassment, or misconduct (per Parliamentary Standards Commissioner).

Qualitative:

• Demonstrated empathy in casework (e.g., personalised help for vulnerable constituents).

• Handling of stress/public criticism (assessed via peer reviews and psychologist evaluations).

5. REAL-WORLD GROUNDING (POST-ELECTION)

Quantitative:

• Annual "Job Shadowing": 6 days/year working in a local minimum-wage job (e.g., care home, retail).

• Policy Impact Tracking: Improvement in local metrics tied to their advocacy (e.g., reduced NHS wait times, new school funding).

Qualitative:

• Use of lived experience in debates (e.g., referencing conversations with low-paid workers when discussing wage policies).

Enforcement

• Independent Auditor: A cross-party Parliamentary Standards Agency verifies metrics in a fortnightly ‘Job Centre for MPs’ along with an annual report. Failure to attend without express permission or demonstrate criteria achievement/progress should result in sanctions (e.g. pay being docked like Universal Credit recipients are – what’s sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander)

• Public Dashboard: Live tracking of MPs’ performance (e.g. "Voted 89% with constituents’ surveyed preferences").

• Rewards for Excellence: Top-performing MPs get resources (e.g. extra staff budget, committee leadership roles).

RECALL & CONSEQUENCES FOR UNDERPERFORMANCE

• Automatic triggers for review:

  • Missing 3+ performance targets for two consecutive years.

  • Constituent satisfaction rating below 40%.

  • Serious ethical breach (e.g. corruption, harassment, lying).

    • Confirmed lies should result in the MP having to go on TV and social media and apologise for lying.

• Recall petition: If 20% of constituents sign, a by-election is forced.

WHY THESE METRICS?

• Prevents lazy MPs who treat the role as a sinecure.

• Rewards substance over showmanship (e.g. social media grandstanding doesn’t count as "engagement").

• Forces accountability to constituents, not party whips or donors.

Example Benchmark: A "Good" MP might hit 80% of quantitative metrics and show strong qualitative leadership, while a "Failing" MP misses over 50%.

WHY INCLUDE WORK EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS?

• Prevents career politicians with no real-world insight from dominating Parliament.

• Ensures MPs understand struggles like low pay, precarious work, or underfunded public services.

• Balances meritocracy and diversity - experience matters more than elite education or personal connections.

SUPPLEMENTAL PERFORMANCE METRICS FOR DIFFERENT PARLIAMENTARY ROLES:

SECTION 1: BACKBENCH MPS

Focus: Constituency representation, legislative scrutiny, and grassroots advocacy.

Enhanced Metrics:

• Local Impact:

  • Reduction in local issues they’ve championed (e.g. % drop in rough sleeping, improved A&E wait times).

  • Number of constituents directly assisted with casework (e.g. benefits, housing) per year (benchmark: 500+).

• Legislative Influence:

  • Amendments passed or bills adopted into government policy (even if not lead sponsor).

  • Speeches citing constituent testimony (e.g. "As [Name] from [Town] told me…").

Recall Triggers:

• Fails to speak in Parliament for 6+ months.

• Loses a no-confidence vote by local party members.

SECTION 2: MINISTERS & SHADOW MINISTERS

Focus: Policy delivery, departmental efficiency, and national accountability.

Stricter Metrics:

• Portfolio Performance:

  • Departmental targets met (e.g. NHS backlog reduced, school places created).

  • Transparency in decision-making (e.g. publishes internal risk assessments for major policies).

• Public Trust:

  • Fact-check accuracy rate (e.g. less than 2 major misleading statements per year).

  • Press briefings with unscripted Q&A (minimum 4 per year).

Recall Triggers:

• Major policy failure (e.g. IT system collapse, underspending budget by more than 15%).

• Violates ministerial code (automatically suspended pending investigation).

SECTION 3: PARTY LEADERS & WHIPS

Focus: Coalition-building, party discipline, and national strategy.

Unique Metrics:

• Cross-Party Collaboration:

  • Number of cross-party bills supported (e.g. climate, anti-corruption).

  • Rebels in own party (if >10% dissent on key votes, flags weak leadership).

• Ethical Enforcement:

  • Speed of addressing misconduct complaints against party members (e.g., investigations launched within 7 days).

Recall Triggers:

• Loses 3+ consecutive by-elections.

• Party membership drops 10%+ under their leadership.

• Scraps policy platform from leadership campaign after becoming leader. Lying to own party members is unforgivable.

SECTION 4: COMMITTEE CHAIRS

Focus: Scrutiny, expertise, and impartiality.

Specialist Metrics:

• Report Impact:

  • Government adopts 50%+ of committee recommendations within 12 months.

  • Public evidence sessions held with underrepresented groups (e.g. gig workers, refugees).

• Neutrality:

  • Balance of witnesses (e.g. no >60% from corporate lobbyists).

Recall Triggers:

• Fails to publish reports on time (2+ delays/year).

• Overt partisanship (e.g. blocks valid inquiries for political reasons).

ENFORCEMENT MECHANISMS

• Independent Auditor: A cross-party Parliamentary Standards Agency verifies metrics annually.

• Public Dashboard: Live tracking of MPs’ performance (e.g., "Voted 89% with constituents’ surveyed preferences").

• Rewards for Excellence: Top-performing MPs get resources (e.g., extra staff budget, committee leadership roles).

INNOVATIONS

• Role-specific metrics avoids punishing backbenchers for not delivering ministerial results.

• Party-neutral benchmarks judges MPs on their in-role delivery, not ideology.

• Constituents should be able to give real-time feedback by rating MPs via an app after surgeries/debates, like Uber ratings.

Example: A minister failing to meet NHS targets but excelling in business growth might keep their job but lose Health portfolio. A backbencher with high constituent ratings but low voting attendance could face a recall vote.

PARLIAMENTARY INTEGRITY ACT

An Act to criminalise knowingly misleading Parliament, establish penalties for breaches of public trust, and restore confidence in democratic institutions.

SECTION 1: OFFENCE OF 'KNOWINGLY MISLEADING' PARLIAMENT

• Definition:

  • A Minister, MP, or public official commits an offence if they knowingly or recklessly provide false or misleading information to:

    • Parliament

    • A parliamentary committee

    • An official inquiry

    • The public in an official capacity.

• Burden of Proof:

  • The prosecution must prove intent or reckless disregard for the truth.

  • Parliamentary privilege does not apply as a defence.

• Penalties:

  • Summary conviction (minor offence): Fine up to £20,000 and/or suspension from office for 60 days.

  • Indictment (serious/repeated offence): Up to 2 years imprisonment, disqualification from public office for life, and a public reprimand in Parliament.

SECTION 2: STRENGTHENED PERJURY RULES FOR PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS

• Extension of Perjury Act 1911:

  • Any sworn evidence given by an MP or witness before a parliamentary committee shall be treated as equivalent to court testimony.

  • False statements under oath are prosecutable as perjury (max. 7 years imprisonment).

SECTION 3: PARLIAMENTARY DISHONESTY REGISTER

• Establishment:

  • An Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA)-managed register shall record all findings of deliberate deception.

  • Entries must include:

    • The nature of the false statement

    • The ruling body’s decision (e.g., Privileges Committee)

    • Any sanctions imposed.

  • The register shall be publicly accessible online.

SECTION 4: MANDATORY CORRECTIONS & RECALL MECHANISM

• Correcting the Record:

  • Any MP found to have lied must:

    • Submit a written correction to Hansard within 7 days,

    • Deliver an oral apology in the House and on prime-time television.

  • Failure to comply will trigger an automatic 14-day suspension.

• Automatic Recall Petition Trigger:

  • If an MP is suspended for 5+ days due to misleading Parliament, a recall petition shall be automatically initiated in their constituency.

SECTION 5: LOSS OF PRIVILEGES

• Sanctions for Repeat Offenders:

  • A second offence within 10 years results in:

    • Loss of committee membership,

    • Suspension from ministerial office (if applicable),

    • Forfeiture of 50% of salary for 6 months.

SECTION 6: ENFORCEMENT & APPEALS

• Investigative Body:

  • The Committee on Standards shall investigate allegations, with a right to appeal to an independent tribunal.

• Judicial Review:

  • Sanctions may be challenged in the High Court on procedural grounds only.

EXPLANATORY NOTES

• The law targets only deliberate lies, not honest mistakes or differences of opinion.

• The threat of public shaming and criminal consequences would discourage high-profile deception (e.g. Iraq WMD claims and COVID party denials).

UPDATING THE HONOURS SYSTEM

• Amalgamate all honours into a singular ‘Order of British Excellence’, removing reference to the British Empire.

• Scrap imperial and hereditary titles – no more Sirs, Dames etc. to end elitism and willy-waving.

• Merit-based – no more honours and peerages for donors, aides, MPs, civil servants etc. unless nominated by the public.

  • Given the lucrative financial and post-service benefits that come from political/government roles, anyone from the political sphere nominated for an honour will be given the choice of either the title or their pension.

• Nomination process should be citizen-led, and the justification process open to public scrutiny.

• Nomination categories should focus on real contributions in 3 categories: Community and Public Service, Science and Innovation, and Arts & Culture.

WAR ACCOUNTABILITY & CONSCRIPTION PRIORITY ACT 2029

A BILL TO ensure personal and familial accountability for Members of Parliament who vote in favour of military intervention, by imposing criminal liability for reckless decisions and priority conscription obligations in the event of a national draft.

PART 1: CRIMINAL LIABILITY FOR RECKLESS WAR VOTES

Section 1: Reckless Endangerment of Armed Forces

1. Any MP who votes in favour of authorising or supporting military action abroad shall be subject to retrospective

review by an Independent War Accountability Tribunal (IWAT) if:

• (a) The conflict results in 100+ UK military fatalities, 10,000+ foreign civilian deaths, or 5+ years of continuous engagement without/after declared victory; or

• (b) The decision to engage in warfare is later deemed illegal, unlawful, or reckless by the International Criminal

  Court, UK Supreme Court, or IWAT.

2. An MP shall be guilty of Reckless Endangerment of Armed Forces if IWAT finds they:

• (a) Knowingly misrepresented intelligence to justify war;

• (b) Ignored legal advice that the war was unlawful;

• (c) Failed to assess exit strategies, leading to prolonged quagmire.

3. Penalties upon conviction:

• (a) Mandatory disqualification from public office for 10 years;

• (b) Forfeiture of parliamentary pension for 5 years;

• (c) Criminal fines of up to 150% of net wealth (if personal financial gain is proven).

• (d) Stripped of any knighthoods, peerages, or public honours.

Section 2: Misfeasance in Public Office (War Votes)

1. If an MP is found to have deliberately lied to Parliament or the public to secure a war vote, they may be

prosecuted under existing misfeasance laws, punishable by:

• (a) Up to 5 years imprisonment;

• (b) Lifetime ban from holding public office.

PART 2: PERSONAL FINANCIAL BONDS

Section 3: War Vote Performance Bond

1. Any MP voting in favour of military action must post a bond equivalent to:

• (a) 20% of their annual parliamentary salary (for wars under 1 year);

• (b) 35% of net wealth (for conflicts exceeding 1 year).

2. The bond is forfeited if:

• (a) The war is deemed illegal, unlawful, or reckless (per IWAT);

• (b) Declared objectives fail within 5 years (e.g., no regime change, no WMDs found);

• (c) UK casualties exceed government projections by 50%.

3. Forfeited funds are allocated to:

• (a) Veteran mental health services (50%);

• (b) Reparations for foreign civilian victims (50%).

PART 3: AUTOMATIC BY-ELECTION

Section 4: Constituency Recall Mechanism

1. Within 60 days of a war-authorising vote, a mandatory by-election is triggered in the voting MP’s constituency.

2. The MP must re-win their seat to retain office.

3. Exemptions:

• (a) If the war is defensive (UK/NATO attacked);

• (b) If the MP votes against their party whip and recants within 7 days.

PART 4: MANDATORY FRONTLINE SERVICE

Section 5: Combat Zone Deployment Requirement

1. Any MP voting for war must spend 30 days in the conflict zone within 12 months, in one of the following roles:

• (a) Civilian observer (embedded with military units, non-combat);

• (b) Field hospital aide (assisting medics);

• (c) War crimes documentation (with NGOs).

2. Non-compliance penalties:

• (a) Immediate suspension from Parliament;

• (b) 200% bond forfeiture (in addition to Section 4 penalties).

3. Exemptions:

• (a) Medical incapacity (verified by MoD doctors);

• (b) Security red zones (if deemed too dangerous by Joint Intelligence Committee).

PART 5: CONSCRIPTION PRIORITY FOR MPs & FAMILIES

Section 6: War Vote Conscription Registry

1. Any MP who votes in favour of military action shall be automatically registered, along with their:

• (a) Spouse/civil partner (if aged 18-55);

• (b) Children (if aged 18-35).

2. In the event that mandatory conscription is activated by Parliament, registered individuals shall be:

• (a) Prioritised for call-up before the general population;

• (b) Ineligible for deferment except on medical grounds (certified by military doctors).

3. Elderly MPs who are over the maximum conscription age at the time must agree to either:

• (a) a family member of fighting age to take their place should they be called up, or;

• (b) post a bond equivalent to 50% of their net wealth, or;

• (c) an additional 20% surcharge to their Lifetime Gifts Tax allowance, or;

• (d) forfeit their Parliamentary pension for 10 years.

4. Public Transparency:

• A War Vote Conscription List shall be maintained by the Ministry of Defence and published annually.

Section 7: Exemptions

1. No liability/registration applies if:

• (a) The war is defensive (UK/NATO territory attacked);

• (b) The MP publicly recants their vote within 30 days and donates 6 months’ salary to veteran charities.

PART 6: ENFORCEMENT & TRIBUNAL

Section 8: Independent War Accountability Tribunal (IWAT)

1. IWAT shall consist of:

• (a) 3 senior judges (appointed by the Supreme Court);

• (b) 2 military veterans (selected by the Royal British Legion);

• (c) 1 representative of the opposition party.

2. IWAT may compel testimony, declassify documents, and issue binding rulings.

Section 9: Commencement & Review Clause

1. This Act shall come into force 6 months after royal assent.

2. A 10-year review shall determine if the Act has reduced reckless war votes.

EXPLANATORY NOTES

• Why criminal liability? To deter the same lying and intentional recklessness that was seen with previous marches to war, particularly the 2003 illegal invasion of Iraq for which nobody has still been held to account.

• Why conscription priority? This forces MPs to "share the risk" if they demand war without involuntarily forcing anyone to fight.

• Legal safeguards: Only triggers if general conscription is active and exempts defensive wars.

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