By PM changes ministerial code to remove need to resign over breaches
Boris Johnson is changing the rules to let ministers avoid resigning if they break the ministerial code, just two days after the Sue Gray report.
The prime minister published a policy statement saying it is “disproportionate to expect that any breach, however minor, should lead automatically to resignation or dismissal”.
As reported by The Guardian, a new version of the ministerial code has been published, meaning ministers are likely to face making a “public apology, remedial action, or removal of ministerial salary for a period” if they unknowingly mislead the house.
One of the reasons for changing the rules is to “avoid incentives for trivial or vexatious complaints which may be made for partisan reasons” after Labour and the Liberal Democrats made complaints about ministers’ conduct.
Mr Johnson is currently facing his own investigation by the privileges committee into whether he misled parliament by claiming there were no parties in No 10 during lockdown.
The ministerial code continues to say that it is a resignation matter if a minister “knowingly” misleads the House of Commons.
If Mr Johnson is found to have breached principles of public life, such as lacking openness and honesty, the changes to the rules make it less likely that he would be expected to resign.
Under the changes, Mr Johnson also rejected the idea that his independent adviser should have the power to launch investigations into ministers or the prime minister without his permission.
The adviser, currently Christopher Geidt, a former aide to the Queen, will in future be able to instigate investigations but only with the consent of the prime minister.
Should such a situation arise, the adviser would be able to make the matter public knowledge.
In the release published by the government, they state the changes “provide a measured and principled approach to ensure high standards in public life, whilst ensuring democratic accountability of elected representatives to the British people via the ballot box”.
(Image: REUTERS)
