In the wake of the partygate scandal of COVID lockdown-breaching parties at Downing Street, Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s independent ethics adviser Lord Christopher Geidt has resigned his position.
Harping on the exact reason behind the resignation, Downing Street published his resignation letter to Johnson, which claims he was put in an “impossible and odious” position over another matter since the partygate scandal.
In his resignation letter, Geidt, the Independent Adviser on Ministers’ Interests who reported directly to the Prime Minister in an advisory capacity, said “I was tasked to offer a view about the government’s intention to consider measures which risk a deliberate and purposeful breach of the Ministerial Code. This request has placed me in an impossible and odious position”
“My informal response on Monday was that you and any other minister should justify openly your position vis-à-vis the Code in such circumstances. However, the idea that a Prime Minister might to any degree be in the business of deliberately breaching his own Code is an affront… This would make a mockery not only of respect for the Code but licence the suspension of its provisions in governing the conduct of Her Majesty’s ministers. I can have no part in this”.
Reacting swiftly, Johnson’s letter sought to highlight that he was simply seeking Geidt’s “advice on the national interest in protecting a crucial industry”.
His letter indicates the advice relates to trade matters which were “in line with domestic law but might be seen to conflict with our obligations under the WTO”.
The PM said “In seeking your advice before any decision was taken, I was looking to ensure that we acted properly with due regard to the Ministerial Code”.
It was gathered Geidt had earlier issued just a brief resignation statement saying that he felt it right to step down from the post of Independent Adviser on Ministers’ Interests.
Reports have it that the resignation took Downing Street by surprise and followed the 2020 exit of Sir Alex Allan, his predecessor in the role, and the recent resignation of the British Prime Minister’s anti-corruption champion, John Penrose.
According to reports, Geidt’s resignation letter makes a reference to the contentious partygate issue, expressing his disappointment that Johnson’s response on the matter had not been “fuller”.
Also, he took note of Johnson’s reference to “miscommunication” between their offices in the matter and indicated that he was prepared to resign at the time but stayed on “by a very small margin”.
Expectedly, the Opposition parties renewed their partygate attack on the government over this latest development.
Labour’s Deputy Leader Angela Rayner, said “The Prime Minister has now driven both of his own handpicked ethics advisers to resign in despair. If even they can’t defend his conduct in office, how can anyone believe he is fit to govern”.
“When both of Boris Johnson’s own ethics advisers have quit, it is obvious that he is the one who needs to go,” questioned Liberal Democrat chief whip Wendy Chamberlain.
Recall that Johnson has been under fire over a COVID lockdown-breaching birthday party at Downing Street in June 2020.
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