What Labour should do now to clean up politics and restore public trust
Letters: Dr Arun Midha and Dr Peter Estcourt respond to articles by Martin Kettle and Polly Toynbee on the urgent challenge ahead for Keir Starmer’s new government
August 2023
Observer book of the week
Code of Conduct by Chris Bryant review – a parliamentary pedant’s plan for fixing Britain’s politics
MPs’ income from outside politics: a timeline of the furore
January 2023
John Stonehouse paved the way for today’s sleazy members – only he didn’t get away with it
Catherine Bennett
His rackety life and faked death, as portrayed in a new ITV drama, seems almost quaint compared with the brazenness of MPs today
November 2022
Owen Paterson’s lawyers admit irony of his seeking ECHR’s help
Representatives of Eurosceptic insist he had been left with no option but to appeal to European court of human rights
Politics live with Andrew Sparrow
Robert Jenrick says migrants with diphtheria symptoms will no longer be dispersed around country – as it happened
Immigration minister confirms 50 cases of diphtheria linked to Manston asylum accommodation
Moonlighting MPs earn more than ever from second jobs, despite ‘crackdown’
Owen Paterson taking UK to human rights court after lobbying scandal
Politics live with Andrew Sparrow
Eurosceptic former MP Owen Paterson takes UK government to European court of human rights – as it happened
October 2022
Owen Paterson may face £7,500 fine over lobbying for healthcare firm
Watchdog provisionally concludes former Tory MP broke transparency rules when he lobbied on behalf of Randox
September 2022
Liz Truss warned not to install Johnson ally on Commons inquiry into Partygate
Parties, Paterson and prorogation: lowlights of Boris Johnson’s tenure
July 2022
UK health department played ‘fast and loose’ when awarding Covid contracts to Randox
Commons public accounts committee issues damning report into £777m of contracts given to firm that employed Owen Paterson as lobbyist
Boris Johnson’s downfall: a corrosive culture of cronyism
Analysis: Partygate was the last straw, but the long view of history will count a broader catalogue of corruption
Scandal after scandal: timeline of Tory sleaze under Boris Johnson
PM’s tenure has been characterised by disrepute, from lockdown breaches to serious sexual assaults
April 2022
Covid-19 investigations
Matt Hancock’s stay at mansion of Randox founder revealed by FoI request
Former health secretary never declared hospitality from head of firm connected to lobbying scandal
March 2022
Covid-19 investigations
Matt Hancock failed to disclose messages with Owen Paterson over Covid contracts
Boris Johnson’s broken promise on MPs’ second jobs fits a pattern
February 2022
Owen Paterson’s Randox lobbying texts to Matt Hancock released
Government forced to publish messages between disgraced Tory MP and then health secretary
December 2021
‘One rule for them’: how a simple slogan helped change the political landscape
Ben Nunn
Keir Starmer’s former communications director explains why Labour activists are right to end the year on an optimistic note
