Repeatedly of late, we’ve seen cases where at the very least the perception exists that there are inadequate investigative and enforcement mechanisms around standards in public life and holding politicians to account.

What mechanisms do exist have in some cases been diminished. So for example, the Prime Minister’s independent adviser on the ministerial standards Sir Alex Allen resigns, after the PM chose to ignore his finding that the Home Sec in beach of the code- and he has not been replaced

As I’ve pointed out many times, it’s the Prime Minister’s job to adjudicate the code. He’s judge, jury and executioner (especially in the absence of an independent adviser on ministerial standards). Given it’s his government, the potential conflict of interest is clear.

NB The Cameron case is not purely a question of the ministerial code as it relates to activity after he left office (though obviously some of it is about access he granted while he was prime minister). But again, clear extra-Whitehall enforcement mechanisms aren’t there.

https://twitter.com/lewis_goodall/st...83721127788549
Not going to suggest it's a problem limited to Westminster but this aint an example of a strong democracy.