Oldham MP Abrahams calls for a 'new political culture' at Democracy Conference

Oldham MP Debbie Abrahams pictured at ‘The Psychology of Democracy’ international conference in Media City in Salford

Oldham East and Saddleworth MP Debbie Abrahams, who serves as Co-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Compassionate Politics, called for reforms to the UK’s political culture at ‘The Psychology of Democracy’ international conference in Media City in Salford.

Ms Abrahams pointed to a poll by the Compassion in Politics group that found that 7 in 10 people do not trust anything politicians say and 9 in 10 do not think politicians have their best interests at heart.

Earlier this year, Ms Abrahams introduced a new Elected Representatives (Codes of Conduct) Bill which proposed a series of reforms to change how our political system operates and politicians’ behaviour is regulated in order to change our political culture.

This included putting the Ministerial and MPs’ codes of conduct on a statutory footing, alongside incorporating the Seven Nolan Principles of Public Life into law and creating a truly independent Commissioner on Ministerial Standards. 

Another of the Bill’s measures, to introduce a new Ethics Commission, has now been adopted by the Labour Party as policy.

In Debbie’s Bill, a Citizen’s Assembly of ordinary people will feed into the Ethics Commission so we build a consensus across the country about what we want our democracy to look like in the 21st Century.   

As Co-Chair of the All-Party Group, Ms Abrahams works with Conservative peer Baroness Warsi and other politicians across the spectrum to promote compassionate politics.

Following the Conference, Ms Abrahams said: “I was delighted to attend this Conference, where I spoke about the steps that I believe we should take to improve our political culture.

“I knock on doors every week in Oldham East and Saddleworth, and residents tell me that their faith in politics is at a very low ebb.

"And who can blame them?

"When they stayed at home to protect each other during lockdown, members of the Government held raucous parties.

"When they struggle to pay their bills, energy production companies are raking in huge profits.

"And while they face endless waits to speak to a GP, the Prime Minister will see his private doctor straight away.

“That’s why I am more determined than ever to promote a new kind of politics, one that places compassion, honesty and integrity at its heart.”

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