Make lying in the House of Commons a criminal offence
This petition gathered 133,008 signatures between 14 April 2021 and 14 October 2021, according to the Parliament petitions site. The Government responded on 12 August 2021. MPs debated it in Westminster Hall on 23 October 2023.
The petition
The petition's creator is not named in the Petitions site's published record. Quoted in full from the UK Parliament petitions site.
Make lying in the House of Commons a criminal offence
The Government should introduce legislation to make lying in the House of Commons a criminal offence. This would mean that all MPs, including Ministers, would face a serious penalty for knowingly making false statements in the House of Commons, as is the case in a court of law.
We believe false statements have been made in the House and, although regarded as a "serious offence" in principle, options to challenge this are extremely limited as accusing a member of lying is forbidden in the House.
Truth in the House of Commons is every bit as important as truth in a court of law and breaches should be treated in a similar way to perjury and carry similar penalties.
The Government's response
The Government published its response on 12 August 2021; the petitions site lists the Office of the Leader of the House of Commons as responsible. Its summary:
The Government does not intend to introduce legislation of this nature. MPs must abide by the Code of Conduct and conduct in the Chamber is a matter for the Speaker.
The opening 398 words of the 407-word response:
It is an important principle of the UK Parliament that Members of Parliament are accountable to those who elect them. It is absolutely right that all MPs are fully accountable to their constituents for what they say and do and this is ultimately reflected at the ballot box.
Freedom of speech in Parliament is an essential part of our democracy. It is a right that enables Parliament to function freely and fully, ensuring that MPs are able to speak their minds in debates, and to represent their constituents’ views without fear or favour. Parliamentary privilege, which includes freedom of speech and the right of both Houses of Parliament to regulate their own affairs, grants certain legal immunities to Members of both Houses to allow them to perform their duties without outside interference.
Once elected, MPs are expected to abide by the seven principles of public life which form the basis of ethical standards required of holders of public office. These are set out by the Committee on Standards in Public Life and are: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership. It is a requirement that any holder of public office must be truthful and must act and take decisions impartially, fairly and on merit, using the best evidence and without discrimination or bias.
MPs are also subject to the House of Commons Code of Conduct and the Guide to the Rules relating to the Conduct of Members. The code includes a general duty on MPs to “act in the interests of the nation as a whole; and a special duty to their constituents”, alongside a requirement that MPs “act on all occasions in accordance with the public trust placed in them. They should always behave with probity and integrity, including in their use of public resources.” The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards is an independent officer of the House of Commons and is responsible for investigating allegations that MPs have breached the rules in the Code of Conduct. Further details about the role of the Commissioner for Standards are available on the Parliament website at: https://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/standards-and-financial-interests/parliamentary-commissioner-for-standards/
Conduct in the Chamber is beyond the remit of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards. This is because the House has determined that how Members conduct themselves in the Chamber, including their adherence to the principles of public life, is a matter for the Speaker, and Parliament is responsible for its own procedures.
Read the full response on the petitions site.
Where the signatures came from
Signatures came from 650 constituencies on the boundaries used until the 2024 general election. The largest number, 615, came from Bristol West.
130,092 of the signatures were from the UK and 2,916 from elsewhere, by the location signers gave.
| Constituency | Signatures |
|---|---|
| Bristol West | 615 |
| Brighton, Pavilion | 575 |
| Hornsey and Wood Green | 435 |
| Hove | 419 |
| Sheffield Central | 387 |
| Cambridge | 386 |
| Liverpool, Riverside | 386 |
| Holborn and St Pancras | 384 |
| Twickenham | 377 |
| Edinburgh North and Leith | 371 |
| Region | Signatures |
|---|---|
| South East | 19,228 |
| North West | 15,057 |
| London | 15,052 |
| South West | 14,115 |
| Scotland | 11,855 |
| East of England | 11,043 |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | 9,660 |
| West Midlands | 8,688 |
| East Midlands | 8,185 |
| Wales | 7,399 |
| North East | 5,164 |
| Northern Ireland | 1,573 |
Debate in Parliament
MPs debated the petition in Westminster Hall on 23 October 2023. Read the debate in Hansard. House of Commons Library debate pack.
Source and receipt
- https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/576886.jsonUK Parliament Petitions API · read 2026-10-15 · SHA-256
4568a6dbae3fd7fb… - The petition on petition.parliament.uk
The petition's words are its creator's and the response is the Government's; this site quotes both and gives no view on either. Signature counts can still change while a petition is open. To report an error, send a correction request.