About us
Source: gov.uk (2025-10-13)

The Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards is appointed by the Prime Minister to advise him on matters relating to the Ministerial Code. The post holder is independent of government and expected to provide impartial advice to the Prime Minister.

Sir Laurie Magnus CBE (https://www.gov.uk/government/people/laurie-magnus) was appointed by the Prime Minister as Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards on 22 December 2022.

The role of Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards has existed since 2006. The work of the Independent Adviser is set out in the Ministerial Code (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ministerial-code/ministerial-code) and also the Terms of Reference (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/terms-of-reference-for-the-independent-adviser-on-ministerial-standards) for the role and includes:
- providing an independent check and source of advice to government ministers on the handling of their private interests
- publishing information about relevant private interests held by ministers (known as the List of Ministers’ Interests)
- advising the Prime Minister on conduct matters and investigating alleged breaches of the Ministerial Code
- providing confidential advice to ministers on request
- providing advice to former ministers under the Business Appointment Rules (BARs) (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/business-appointment-rules-for-ministers).
The Independent Adviser is required to observe the Seven Principles of Public Life, and relevant provisions of the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies.

Publications

List of Ministers’ Interests

Lists of Ministers’ Interests published by the Independent Adviser (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/list-of-ministers-interests)

Previous Lists of Ministers Interests (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/previous-lists-of-ministers-interests)

Business Appointment Rules advice

Advice provided under the Business Appointment Rules (BARs) since 13 October 2025 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/advice-issued-under-the-business-appointment-rules-for-ministers)

Annual reports issued by the Independent Adviser
- Annual Report 2024-2025 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/independent-adviser-on-ministerial-standards-annual-report-2024-2025)
- Annual Report 2023-2024 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/independent-adviser-on-ministers-interests-annual-report-2023-2024)
- Annual Report, 2022-2023 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/annual-report-of-the-independent-adviser-on-ministers-interests-may-2023)
Advice given to the Prime Minister under the Ministerial Code by the Independent Adviser
- Advice, 5 September 2025 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/letter-from-the-independent-adviser-on-ministerial-standards-exchange-of-letters-between-the-prime-minister-and-angela-rayner-mp)
- Advice, 14 January 2025 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/exchange-of-letters-between-the-prime-minister-and-tulip-siddiq-mp)
- Advice, 4 April 2023 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/exchange-of-letters-between-the-prime-minister-and-the-independent-adviser-on-ministers-interests-6-april-2023)
- Advice, 29 January 2023 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/advice-from-the-independent-adviser-on-ministers-interests-january-2023)
Previous office-holders
- Lord Geidt, Independent Adviser on Ministers’ Interests 2021-2022
- Sir Alex Allan, Independent Adviser on Ministers’ Interests 2012-2020
- Sir Philip Mawer, Independent Adviser on Ministers’ Interests 2008-2011
- Sir John Bourn, Independent Adviser on Ministers’ Interests 2006-2007