VerbatimParliament, as it happens

Public Appointments: Political Impartiality

Asked by Mike WoodConservativeCabinet OfficeTabled Answered 25 November 2025UIN 91380

The question

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 3 November 2025, to Question 84247, on Public Appointments: Political Impartiality, if he will make it his policy to amend guidance to require disclosure of previous political activity to be declared within and at the time of the gov.uk announcement of the appointment.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds

The Governance Code on Public Appointments requires that relevant political activity, as defined within the Code, should be publicly disclosed for successful candidates. This is expected to happen at the time that a department or appointing body announces the successful candidate. Or in the case of those appointments subject to pre-appointment hearing by a House of Commons select committee, the preferred candidate.

Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →

Open this question in Verbatim →

Every written question, searchable

155,000 questions tabled since the election, with the answer each department gave — and the ones still unanswered, with the clock running. Free to search.

Search written questions →Read on Verbatim