On Tuesday, members of parliament will vote on whether to grant a select committee the authority to appoint its independent adviser on ministerial code violations and launch its investigations if Boris Johnson’s ethics adviser position remains unfilled.
Lord Geidt, the ethical adviser to the prime minister, resigned last week, stating that he “could not be a party to advising on potential lawbreaking.”
The official spokeswoman for Mr. Johnson stated that there were no preparations to replace Lord Geidt.
On Tuesday, the House of Representatives will vote on whether the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Select Committee (PACAC) can hire its independent adviser on ministerial code breaches and conduct its investigations if the position stays vacant.
Angela Rayner, deputy Labour leader, said: “In just two years, the prime minister has forced both of his hand-picked ethics advisers to retire in despair, leaving an ethical void in Downing Street.
“Labour will implement extraordinary measures at Number 10 to prevent this prime minister from disregarding the rules, evading responsibility, and lowering the quality of public life.
“While this sleazy prime minister is propped up in position by Conservative members of parliament, the government is completely incapable of addressing the cost of living crisis facing the British people.
“Labour’s proposal would provide a cross-party group of MPs the authority to monitor the behavior of this rogue prime minister until a new, really independent adviser is appointed.
“The Committee on Standards in Public Life has ruled that, in addition to filling this vacancy, the position must be modified immediately. It is time for Conservative members of parliament to cease supporting this discredited prime minister and support Labour’s proposal to clean up politics.
Lord Geidt was the second independent adviser to resign under Mr. Johnson, stating that the prime minister had placed him in an “impossible and abhorrent position.”
Before resigning last week, he claimed he had contemplated quitting over Mr. Johnson’s reaction to his partygate fine for violating COVID-19 guidelines.
Lord Geidt explained to the prime minister why he was departing by stating that he believed he could “remain credibly as an independent adviser” despite partygate.
Lord Geidt stated in his resignation letter that he had been asked for his opinion on “steps that risk a deliberate and premeditated breach of the ministerial code.”
He stated, “This request has placed me in an impossible and abhorrent position.”
The notion that a prime minister could in any way be in the business of intentionally violating his ethics is offensive.
