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Commons Speaker John Bercow issued a warning to MPs yesterday that their behaviour will be under scrutiny as Parliament seeks to regain public trust following the expenses scandal.
Welcoming the 227 MPs who had been newly elected, the Speaker drew Members attention to the House's code of conduct that should be observed in "letter and in spirit".
In a brief statement to the Commons, Bercow said Members are answerable not just to the House "but to the public for their conduct in this place".
"While the new Parliament gives the House the opportunity to put behind us the events of the last few years, we cannot expect to be under any less scrutiny than our predecessors," he said.
He told MPs that freedom of speech is "at the heart of what we do here".
But the Speaker did warn MPs to take advice and research carefully before using it in sensitive or individual cases.
Bercow also cautioned MPs that they must wear their Commons passes whilst they are on the parliamentary estate and to ensure taking it off when they leave.
He said: "The pass is particularly helpful for enabling our security and police officers to get to know who Members are, and with large numbers of people working here and visiting, it must be immediately apparent that people are in the right place and helped when they are not."
After addressing other security precautions, he also announced that the ballot for the election of deputy speakers will take place on Tuesday 8 June.
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