Downward spiral: Collapsing public standards and how to restore them

A forensic examination of ethical failure in the British government. Boris Johnson’s premiership was marked by scandals that deeply undermined public trust, from dubious PPE procurement to the ‘partygate’ revelations. How did this downward spiral take hold, and what would it take to reverse it? John Bowers KC offers a rigorous analysis of the erosion of ethical standards before, during and after the Johnson government. Drawing on interviews with insiders, he shows how accountability mechanisms were sidelined and how a culture of favouritism flourished, rooted in the assumption that those in power could be relied upon to regulate themselves. Although the Labour victory of July 2024 brought political change, the underlying system remains vulnerable. Downward Spiral sets out concrete proposals for a more transparent and accountable alternative. -- .