Announcement of an Externally-led Review of issues raised by research on MPs' responsiveness to correspondence

In March 2021, following concerns raised by Parliamentarians and their staff about the appropriateness, timing and situational context of a research project that used fictious identities in emails as a mechanism to evaluate MPs’ responsiveness to correspondence, King’s College London committed to undertake a review of the practices and processes around the approval and conduct of this research project.

The purpose of the Review Panel is to examine how we can best enhance our future practices and processes, learning lessons from the recent research project, but also looking at the wider context of research activity and international comparisons.

The review will consider how to sustain Parliamentary and broader social trust in the integrity of research within the context of academic freedom, and recognising the social value of research into political institutions. The final report and the university’s response to it will be published publicly.

The review panel will be chaired by the former Universities, Science, Research and Innovation Minister The Rt Hon. Chris Skidmore MP. It also includes the Labour MP and Commons Education Select Committee member, Fleur Anderson MP, and two highly experienced social scientists from the University of Edinburgh and King’s College London, Professors Christina Boswell and Peter John respectively.