As part of the Public Integrity and Political Reform seminar series from the University's Centre for Contemporary History & Politics, Dr Sarah Birch from the University of Essex will talk about elite and mass attitudes towards right and wrong.

Recent allegations involving the misuse of parliamentary allowances have thrust the issue of political ethics and politicians' integrity high onto the news agenda. At one level, such allegations highlight the inevitable gap between the realities of parliamentary life and the standards demanded by the public. At another level, they serve to highlight an apparent gap between mass and elite attitudes towards right and wrong.

This paper explores the extent of contemporary disagreement among British political elites and those they represent by comparing responses to questions asked in a representative survey of the public with similar questions asked of incumbent MPs and parliamentary candidates.

The paper finds that there are differences between members of the public, candidates and MPs at the aggregate level, but once we control for other personal characteristics, only incumbency has a significant impact on individual's tolerance of ethically dubious behaviour. This finding suggests that political selection is not responsible for the ethics gap, but rather legislative socialisation and the acquisition of distinct interests associated with membership of Parliament.

For more information please email Professor Jim Newell (j.l.newell@salford.ac.uk) or phone 0161 295 5660.

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