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Corruption and Standard in British Politics

Corruption and Standard in British Politics: The launch of The Many Lives of Corruption: The reform of public life in modern Britain c. 1750-1950 edited by Ian Cawood & Tom Crook

How has corruption shaped - and undermined - the history of public life in modern Britain? We take this new collection of essays as the starting point for an examination of this question. It will consider two and a half centuries of history, from the first assaults on Old Corruption and aristocratic privilege during the late eighteenth century through to the corruption scandals that blighted the worlds of Westminster and municipal government during the twentieth century. And it will reflect on the emergence of the concept of standards of governance in modern Britain and identify potential parallels between the challenges of the era which the book covers and those facing UK politics today.

Joining the editors Dr Ian Cawood (University of Stirling) and Dr Tom Crook (Oxford Brookes University) to discuss the book was:

  • Anneliese Dodds MP (Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities)
  • John Penrose MP (United Kingdom Anti-Corruption Champion at the Home Office 2017-2022)
  • Prof Mark Knights (University of Warwick. Specialist in the history of corruption in Early Modern Britain)
  • Dr Kathryn Rix (Assistant Editor, House of Commons 1832-1945, History of Parliament)

This event was chaired by Professor Philip Murphy, Director of History & Policy.


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