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Open Codify rules for MPs' attendance in Parliament & their constituency in statute

Created by Caroline Hurst
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Codify in statute clear and binding obligations for MPs on time spent in their constituency and in Parliament. We think that leaving it to convention unfortunately allows a minority to abuse the system.

MPs are well paid from the public purse to represent the people, and it is important to ensure that they fulfil their responsibilities once elected. We find current arrangements unpalatable and want statutory rules to be introduced with stronger mechanisms to hold them to account if they fail to carry out their duties.

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  • Government responded to this petition

    The Government is committed to maintaining high standards of conduct in public life, but has no plans to introduce rules to codify or mandate MPs' attendance in Parliament or their constituencies.

    Read the response in full

    Under the UK’s constitutional framework, it is ultimately for voters to
    judge whether their elected representative is fulfilling their duties
    effectively.

    Members of Parliament are not employees; they are independently
    elected office holders, chosen by their constituents to represent them in
    the House of Commons. As they do not have an employer-employee
    relationship with either the government or parliamentary authorities,
    there is no formal mechanism, employment contract or statute that
    dictates their working hours or daily location.

    The role of an MP requires considerable flexibility to balance varied
    responsibilities. A lack of physical presence in the House of Commons
    Chamber does not mean an MP is not working; they may be scrutinising
    policy or legislation in committee, meeting with ministers on behalf of
    constituents, or managing local casework. Mandating a strict statutory
    split between Westminster and constituency time would restrict an MP's
    ability to respond dynamically to local or national priorities.

    Whilst general daily attendance is not legally mandated, there are
    already robust mechanisms in place to ensure MPs remain accountable
    to the public and to Parliament:

    ● The Code of Conduct: All MPs must adhere to the Commons Code
    of Conduct, which is supervised by the independent Parliamentary
    Commissioner for Standards and the Commons Committee on
    Standards. The Code is underpinned by the Seven Principles of
    Public Life (the Nolan Principles), which call on all office holders,
    including MPs, to act with integrity and openness.

    ● The political party system: Political parties manage attendance for
    key parliamentary business, such as votes (divisions) and debates,
    through their respective whips.

    ● Select committee attendance: Select committees publish data on
    the attendance records of their members. In addition, in 2010 the
    House of Commons introduced rules enabling the removal of an
    MP from a select committee if they fail to attend at least 60% of its
    formal meetings during a session.

    ● The Recall of MPs Act 2015: The recall process allows
    constituents to sign a petition to trigger a by-election and remove
    their MP from office if specific triggers are met, such as
    imprisonment following a criminal conviction, suspension from the
    House of the requisite length, or false expenses claims.

    In addition, the public may scrutinise an MP's activity by examining
    minutes of committee meetings and records of debates or divisions, all
    of which are routinely published on the Parliament website.

    In recognition of the fact that MPs should be focusing on their
    parliamentary duties and representing their constituents, the government
    has also committed to banning second jobs for MPs, outside of very
    limited exceptions such as for maintaining a professional qualification.
    The House of Commons’ Committee on Standards is currently
    examining this matter.

    Ultimately, the government believes that the most effective and
    democratic mechanism for holding MPs to account is the electoral
    process itself. Every general election provides constituents with the
    direct opportunity to scrutinise their MP’s track record, visibility and
    commitment to their area. Voters can, and sometimes do, choose to
    remove MPs whom they feel have failed to adequately engage with
    either their parliamentary or constituency responsibilities.

    By keeping this responsibility with the electorate rather than codified in
    law, the UK preserves the essential principle that MPs answer directly to
    the people they represent.

    Office of the Leader of the House of Commons

  • Government will respond to this petition

    This petition got more than 10,000 signatures meaning that government will respond to it.

  • Petition published

    This petition can now be signed.

    If this petition gets 10,000 signatures, government will respond to it.

    If this petition gets 100,000 signatures, it will be considered for debate in Parliament.

    This petition will stay open until 15 October 2026.