Ryan Callaghan

We live in a country where if you lie on a form, you could lose your home. If you misspeak to an official, you could lose your benefits. If you refuse to answer a question in court, you could face prison. But what happens when they lie to us? When ministers mislead Parliament — nothing. When MPs dodge questions — nothing. When civil servants cover up mistakes — nothing. This is not democracy. It’s hypocrisy in high office. The law must not be a weapon wielded by the powerful against the powerless. It must cut both ways. If we — the people — are expected to tell the truth… Then those who govern us must do the same. If we must follow the law… Then those who make the law must not be allowed to break it with lies, silence, and spin. This is why I stand here today to demand the Duty of Truth and Clarity Act: ✅ A legal duty for all officials to speak truthfully ✅ A requirement to answer questions directly ✅ Independent oversight with real consequences for dishonesty We don’t want apologies. We want accountability. We don’t want pledges. We want penalties. We don’t want spin. We want truth. We are not their subjects. We are not their property. We are the public — and it is our consent that gives this government its power. If that consent is abused, we will revoke it. The age of deception must end. It’s time to make it illegal for politicians to lie — and to force them to answer the people they claim to serve.