House of Lords
Conduct Committee – Lay Members
The House of Lords is the second chamber of the UK Parliament with around 800 members. It is independent from, and complements the work of, the elected House of Commons. The Lords has three main roles: helping to make laws, in-depth consideration of public policy and scrutinising government. The House of Lords Administration employs around 700 people, delivering excellent services to the House and its members.
The House of Lords expects the highest standards of conduct from its members. An important part of this is having a robust Code of Conduct, which is agreed by the House on the advice of the Conduct Committee. The Code of Conduct contains rules for members including declaring registered interests, accepting payments in return for parliamentary services, and provisions to deal with complaints around bullying and harassment. The independent Commissioners for Standards will investigate alleged breaches to this code, while the Conduct Committee reviews and may hear appeals against the Commissioners’ findings.
Recognising the benefits brought by lay or external members to professional regulation, the Conduct Committee includes four lay members who work alongside five peer members. The independence of thought and variety of perspectives brought by the lay members is an integral part of maintaining public confidence in the House.
The work of the Conduct Committee members, whether developing rules or considering appeals in cases where a member is found in breach of the code, is often high-profile, complex and stimulating. The lay members participate fully in the work of the committee.
Following a review of the Code of Conduct, the findings of which will be published early in 2025, and with two lay members standing down, the House is now looking to appoint two new lay members to the Conduct Committee.
Candidates will have operated at a senior level within a complex organisation in the public, private or not-for-profit sectors and will bring personal authority to the role. They must be able to reach objective conclusions based on evidence and rigorous analysis of often large volumes of complex information. This might be on issues where there are strongly held and contested views. Successful candidates will bring significant experience of working strategically in a complex environment and of improving systems and processes to challenge expectations, where necessary.
In recruiting new Lay Members, the House is seeking individuals who bring integrity, and who will demonstrate an independent and objective approach to handling cases. If you think you have the appropriate attributes for this role, we would be delighted to hear from you.
Saxton Bampfylde Ltd is acting as an employment agency advisor to the House of Lords on this appointment. For further information about the role, including details about how to apply, please visit www.saxbam.com/appointments using reference OAKABD. Alternatively email Belinda.beck@saxbam.com. Applications should be received by 23.59 on Monday 13th January 2025.
The House of Lords Administration employs around 700 people, delivering excellent services to the House and its members.