NEWS stories about corruption abound, not least in the pages of this newspaper. Too often, however, it is seen as something that happens elsewhere, and governments in the West fail to acknowledge their own institutional shortcomings. The revelations about Lord Mandelson and the late paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein (6 February) show that corruption afflicts supposedly “mature” democracies, too. The former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Williams has spoken to this newspaper of “the moral hypnosis created by extreme wealth”, which “allows billionaires to buy people and communities”. As the former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who is motivated increasingly by his “quiet Christian faith”, pointed out in The Guardian at the weekend, Lord Mandelson’s activities “force us to examine how easy it is in our country to trade secrets” and “for wealth to gain access to power”.
In 2022, Mr Brown chaired a constitutional review, which recommended measures to improve standards in public life. Some of these, such as tightening the code on ministerial behaviour and banning overseas money from election campaigns, have already been implemented. But the former PM is right to urge his successor to “move much faster and further” by, among other things: establishing an independent anti-corruption commission with legal powers “to root out any criminality in UK political life”; naming “corruption” as a new statutory offence; and setting up an ethics and integrity commission that can investigate cases and impose penalties. Furthermore, he argues, public scrutiny should be brought to bear on public appointments by, for example, parliamentary hearings for newly appointed ministers, akin to those held by the United States Senate. Ultimately, he suggests, the PM must “legislate for a new era of transparency” and “let in the light — and send the princes of darkness on their way”.
Such theologically resonant words will resonate with Christians, who see evil forces at play in Epstein’s trafficking of vulnerable girls to the rich and powerful, and are horrified that somebody so closely connected to such a man should have been appointed to high office and pass on highly sensitive information to him. But legislation is not enough on its own: we also need parliamentarians with integrity, motivated by service to the common good, not self-enrichment or self-gratification. Many MPs and ministers already exhibit such qualities. As we prepare for the season of Lent, we can only hope that letting the light in will create a culture that attracts more such people — and reduces the risks posed by sinful humanity.
