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.
(www.standardsboard.co.uk)
Many people maintain these standards most of the time. Nevertheless, the need to be
vigilant and alert remains as important today as ever.