POLITICIANS with “poor ethical standards” should face tougher sanctions, including apologies, fines and resignations, a review by the anti-corruption watchdog has found. 

The investigation by the cross-party committee on standards in public life was commissioned after the Greensill scandal, which saw former prime minister David Cameron privately lobbying ministers to grant emergency Covid-19 loans for the credit firm, his then employer, before its collapse in March.

Mr Cameron did not face retribution as he was classified as a company employee, but he would under the proposed changes.

The inquiry into the rules and systems governing standards of conduct in public office is the biggest of its kind in years.

According to the Upholding Standards in Public Life report, the entire system needs an overhaul after polling and focus group research showed that the public thinks MPs and ministers have poor ethical standards.

It called for more independent regulation of the ministerial code alongside an expansion of business appointment rules, which should be enforceable through legal arrangements.

The powers of the commissioner for public appointment also need beefing up, the report said, while the Cabinet Office must introduce “better co-ordination and more consistent publication” over transparency around lobbying.

Committee chair Lord Evans of Weardale said: “The arrangements to uphold ethical standards in government have come under close scrutiny and significant criticism in recent months. Maintaining high standards requires vigilance and leadership.

“We believe our recommendations point to a necessary programme of reform to restore public confidence in the regulation of ethical standards in government.”

Welcoming the review, Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner said: “[Prime Minister] Boris Johnson and his Conservative colleagues’ actions have repeatedly undermined standards in our public life.

“The system that is supposed to uphold the ministerial code, lobbying rules, business appointments, public appointments and transparency is clearly unfit for purpose.

“Ministers have disregarded the rules and it is about time for a radical overhaul of the system.

“Labour will introduce an independent integrity and ethics commission that will clean up our politics and restore standards and integrity to our public life.”

Transparency International UK chief executive Daniel Bruce, who gave evidence to the probe, also praised the review and noted it is “incumbent on the [PM] to enact these significant but sensible reforms without delay.”