Director's lecture - ‘The seven principles of public life: Words, words, words?’

Dr Claire Gilbert explores the gap between our aspirational and our actual selves with reference to the seven principles of public life in Westminster Abbey Institute's Spring Director's Lecture.

As long ago as 1995 the Committee on Standards in Public Life identified seven principles to guide people in public life. These are:

selflessness
integrity
objectivity
accountability
openness
honesty
leadership

They have stood the test of time and are better known and shared than ever before. But have they become values or are they still words? When we look at what we do, as distinct from what we say, where do the principles stand then? Do we enact them, or only espouse them?

Responding to the Committee's recent publication Leading in Practice, Claire Gilbert will identify and explore the gap between our aspirational and our actual selves. Her purpose is not to undermine the principles but to bring them to life as meaningful, provocative challenges to exercise the core moral muscles of public servants and their institutions. Lord Evans of Weardale, Chair of the Committee, will respond.

The speaker is Dr Claire Gilbert, Director, Westminster Abbey Institute
Interlocutor and the Chair is Lord Evans of Weardale, Chair, Committee on Standards in Public Life