No more secret handouts: Time for a proper independent body to scrutinise politicians' undeclared benefits

The UK urgently needs a genuinely independent body to oversee and enforce the declaration of all financial interests, gifts, and benefits for every elected official, from MPs to councillors. This body must have proper powers, not just advisory ones, to ensure complete transparency.

Public trust in politicians is at rock bottom, and incidents of undeclared benefits only deepen that cynicism. People deserve to know who is influencing those in power and whether decisions are being made for the public good or for private gain. It’s fundamentally about fairness; if ordinary folk have to declare everything, politicians should too, and to a much higher standard.

This new body would maintain a live, public register of all benefits received above a nominal value, making it easily accessible for anyone to scrutinise.