Petition · past parliament · Cabinet Office

Make Lying In Public Office A Specific Criminal Offence

Closed 659 signatures

What the petition asks

Those working in the public sector and specifically those elected to Parliament are able to lie to the electorate without any fear of punishment.

Our existing system relies on codes and precedents to curb such behaviour, these clearly are not working in the current political climate.
In order to combat the ever increasing willingness of MPs and other public sector officials (both elected & un-elected) to tell lies and deliberately misinform the citizens of the United Kingdom there needs to be a clear and unambiguous CRIMINAL OFFENCE created to make such behaviour more easily punished.

The current 'Codes of Conduct' for Ministers and MP's and the use of the Speaker to enforce such things are no lo longer an effective deterrent

A CRIMINAL OFFENCE to combat it is now needed.

Timeline

27 Jul 2021 Petition opened for signatures
27 Jan 2022 Closed to new signatures

Key facts

Signatures 659
Status Closed
Department Cabinet Office
Opened 27 Jul 2021
Closed 27 Jan 2022

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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.