CommonsReport stage

Public Office (Accountability) Bill

A Bill to Impose a duty on public authorities and public officials to act with candour, transparency and frankness; to make provision for the enforcement of that duty in their dealings with inquiries and investigations; to require public authorities to promote and take steps to maintain ethical conduct within all parts of the authority; to create an offence in relation to public authorities and public officials who mislead the public; to create further offences in relation to the misconduct of persons who hold public office and to abolish the common law offence of misconduct in public office; to make provision enabling persons to participate at inquiries and investigations where the conduct of public authorities may be in issue; and for connected purposes.

Originating House

House of Commons

Sponsor

Mr David LammyLabour (Co-op)

Parliament last updated

27 March 2026

In Plain English

AI-generated

May contain errors — check source documents for definitive information.

The Public Office (Accountability) Bill would require public authorities and officials to be candid, transparent and frank in their dealings with inquiries and investigations, and would create offences for misleading the public. It also aims to strengthen ethical conduct, extend the duty to more bodies, provide ways for people to participate in inquiries, and set up oversight and whistleblowing protections, while abolishing the common law offence of misconduct in public office.

Key Points

Extends the duty of candour and assistance to public authorities and officials, with Schedule 1 moving to include certain local authority inquiries in England.
Wider questions about who is covered include potential inclusion of intelligence services and the MoD, with several proposals debated but not finalised in Committee stage.
Controversy over offences: consideration of a Deceiving the Public offence versus Misleading the Public, and whether the journalism exemption should be removed or clarified.
Calls for stronger oversight, including proposals for an Ethics and Integrity Commission, an Independent Public Advocate, and improved whistleblower protections and real-time candour.
Participants’ rights and post-implementation checks: measures to involve victims’ voices, address devolution issues, and require a post-legislative assessment within 12 months.

Progress

The bill is at Report Stage in the Commons after a Committee Stage with a large number of amendments. Some changes were agreed, notably extending the duty to local authorities (Schedule 1), while other proposals (e.g., extending to intelligence services or removing the journalism exemption) were withdrawn or not yet decided, showing ongoing policy tensions about scope and enforcement.

Who is affected?

Public authorities and public officials (central and local government)Local authorities in EnglandNHS bodies and health service organisations; the MoD and intelligence services if brought within scopeWhistleblowers and people participating in inquiries (including victims and families)Media organisations and journalists (indirectly, through the journalism exemption debate)Independent panels, inquiries and oversight bodies (if/when extended by the bill)

Generated 21 February 2026

Bill Stages

1st readingCommons

16 Sept 2025

2nd readingCommons

3 Nov 2025

Programme motionCommons

3 Nov 2025

Money resolutionCommons

3 Nov 2025

Committee stageCommons

27 Nov 2025, 2 Dec 2025, 4 Dec 2025

Report stageCommons

3rd readingCommons

1st readingLords

2nd readingLords

Committee stageLords

Report stageLords

3rd readingLords

Royal Assent

Amendments (223)

182 no decision21 not called13 withdrawn6 agreed1 defeated

Showing agreed, defeated, and withdrawn amendments.

Updates & Documents

News (1)

Public Office (Accountability) Bill

18 Dec 2025

The Public Bill Committee has now completed its work and has reported the Bill with amendments to the House, and is no longer able to receive written evidence.

What happens next?

The Bill is now due to have its report stage and third reading on a date to be announced. Amendments can be made to the Bill at Report Stage. Amendments to be considered are selected by the Speaker.