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Downward Spiral

John Bowers

Has there been a decline in public standards in the UK?

Did the decline begin and end with Boris Johnson?

How do we police Ethics in public life?

What needs to change?

After attending Clee Grammar School, Cleethorpes (latterly Matthew Humberstone Comprehensive), John studied at Lincoln College, Oxford.

John was called to the Bar in 1979 and took silk in 1998. He has practised primarily in employment law and human rights. He has also been described in a review as "an employment law rock star”. He is listed as the 4th most reported advocate in the Industrial Relations Law Reports (IRLR). John was Chambers & Partners Employment Silk of the Year 2010.

A frequent lecturer on employment law, John has written 16 books including the recently published ‘Downward Spiral’. John was a member of the Standards Board for England and the Home Office Task Force on Human Rights. He sits out of term as a Deputy High Court Judge. Since 2005 he has been a Bencher of Middle Temple.

John writes about his book 'Downward Spiral', “In this book, I ask whether there has been, in recent years, an overall decline in public standards that is likely to last. Answering this requires a careful assessment of the character and record of Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson. More than anyone else in living memory, he stands accused of bringing the office of Prime Minister into disrepute… But this book is not just about Johnson. The decline did not start with him and arguably the spiral has continued since his departure. This is a good time to look at how we police ethics in public life, at who does that policing and what needs to change.”