New MPs warned they face 'dangerous' lack of public trust

NEW MPs have been warned that a “dangerous” lack of trust in politicians is encouraging violent and disruptive protests.

The official House of Commons standards watchdog cautioned the politicians and urged them to strive to “reverse the trend and restore vital trust between Parliament and the people”.

Daniel Greenberg, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, said: “When people choose to sit down in motorways or attack shops as methods of changing policy, it shows that they have no trust in the political system.”

Five members of pressure group Just Stop Oil were jailed last month after being found guilty of conspiring to block the M25 motorway for four days in November 2022.

The Commissioner’s most recent annual report shows the number of written complaints about the behaviour of MPs had shot up to 5,672 during the past year, compared to 1,434 the year previously.

And in a speech to new MPs, Mr Greenberg said: “Public trust in Parliament and the political system is at a dangerously low level.

“The opposite of love is not hate, but indifference: and the opposite of trust is not suspicion, but disengagement.”

Mr Greenberg also told MPs that calling their opponents names damaged the reputation of every politician, including their own party.

He said: “If Prime Minister’s Question Time reverts to one half of the Chamber calling the other half liars and crooks, and the other half of the Chamber reciprocating, just remember that it isn’t a question of which side the public believe: the public will believe both sides, and take you all at your own assessment of the political class as a whole.”

He called on MPs to show “respect” to each other instead.

The comments were made as part of the induction of new MPs, who were also provided with welcome packs including security alarms and invited to attend inclusion and diversity training.

Mr Greenberg is responsible for monitoring the operation of the House of Commons Code of Conduct, including investigating alleged breaches.

In 2022 he looked into complaints about former Conservative Deputy Chief Whip Chris Pincher and found he had groped two people at the Carlton Club in central London.

Many Conservative MPs were angry with the way former Prime Minister Boris Johnson dealt with the affair, adding to pressure on him to resign as PM.

The Commissioner also ruled former Tory MP Scott Benton broke Commons rules by telling undercover Times reporters pretending to represent an Indian business that he “would be willing to breach and/or circumvent the House’s rules for the company in return for payment.”

Mr Benton resigned as MP for Blackpool South, leading to a by-election in May which the Conservatives lost heavily.