Crime and Policing Bill

Lord Pack Excerpts

Report stage
Wednesday 11th March 2026 Lords Chamber

[Lord Pack (LD)]

My Lords, I wish to speak on a slightly different topic: my Amendment 409FA. I have tabled it because we face a three-pronged crisis. First, there is the growing evidence of foreign interference from Governments and individuals seeking to subvert our democracy. The case of the former Reform UK leader in Wales, Nathan Gill, who pled guilty to eight charges of bribery, is perhaps the most prominent example, but it is by no means the only one—as shown, for example, by MI5’s recent alert to MPs, noble Lords and parliamentary staff after finding that Chinese intelligence officers were attempting to recruit people.

Secondly, there have been far too many other political scandals involving misbehaviour by politicians, such as those involving the then Lord Mandelson, although he is, sadly, by no means the only person from this House, or due to join this House, who has recently been in the headlines for all the wrong reasons.

Thirdly, trust in politics and politicians is at a worryingly low level. A headline from the 41st British Social Attitudes survey, for example, was:

“Trust and confidence in Britain’s system of government at record low”.


Given recent events, it is a reasonable fear that future BSA data will show new record lows being hit. We therefore need to up our game. It is welcome that the Government are taking some steps to do so. The plans in the Hillsborough Bill to modernise the law over misconduct in public office are particularly welcome.