The standards and conduct of public representatives and officials significantly affect the standing in which they are held. This in turn affects the confidence and respect in which governmental systems are held. High standards of conduct and public confidence go hand in hand. As the Standards Board for English local government says,
At the heart of good ….democracy is a bond of trust between the community and the people who represent them -a bond which depends greatly on the conduct of those people. The public have a right to expect the highest standards of behaviour from their representatives and those responsible for the delivery of ... public services.
Many people maintain these standards most of the time. Nevertheless, the need to be vigilant and alert remains as important today as ever.