Vernon White

Claire Foster-Gilbert

Jane Sinclair

Good governance is a fundamental value in the United Kingdom, and its citizens are entitled to expect that public officials, both elected and non-elected, behave according to the highest standards of ethical behavior. Of course, these aspirations alone are not enough to root out corruption in government. In order for integrity in public life to be maintained, the core principles underlying these expectations must be constantly examined and strengthened. This new volume, published in collaboration with the Westminster Abbey Institute, explores ways in which public service institutions can maintain integrity on both the institutional and the individual level. While keeping the power of the individual in mind, the authors also illustrate the critical role institutions play in upholding values when the moral compass of individuals in power fails. Integrity in Public Life provides an essential guide to integrity, seeking to answer the fundamentals of what integrity means in public life and why it holds such a critical role in the constitution of Britain.

Integrity in Public Life

Now more than ever, public servants must consider and reassess how to keep moral courage in public life alive. With ethical expectations and needs changing and government policies under increasing moral scrutiny, Claire Foster-Gilbert of Westminster Abbey Institute gathers a series of essays and lectures by herself and others, exploring the meaning of 'moral code' in today's public service, and how it can be rekindled in practice. Timely and timeless, the book is founded on traditional values of honesty, moral rigour and neighbourliness, and discusses how to champion stability, peace, community and virtue in contemporary public life. The authors, including eminent figures such as the former President of Ireland Mary McAleese, historian Peter Hennessy, former First Secretary of State William Hague and former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, explain how realistic compromises can be balanced with clear goal-setting for ideal results. Forward-thinking and authoritative, this book will be a precious resource to anyone seeking to boost the circulation of integrity throughout all aspects of public life.

Claire Foster-Gilbert

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