Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Shameless Boris bins ‘lie and you will go’ rule
MIKEY SMITH,
BORIS Johnson last night watered down the Ministerial Code and denied his ethics adv-iser more investigatory powers.
Under the Prime Minister’s new version of the Code, ministers can break rules without resigning.
Instead, they could face having to make a public apology, “remedial action” or “removal of ministerial salary for a period”.
Mr Johnson’s new version of ministers’ rules comes just days after Sue Gray’s report slammed No10’s leadership over Partygate.
The PM currently faces an investigation into whether he lied to the Commons – a Code breach.
Previously, it was expected that any minister who broke the Code should offer their resignation.
The revised Code no longer mentions the key principles of integrity, objectivity, accountability, transparency, honesty and leadership in the public interest.
Whitehall Correspondent RESIGN
A rule stating ministers must “uphold the very highest standards of propriety” has also gone. And the PM denied his ethics advisor Lord Geidt the power to launch probes independently.
Yesterday, MP Paul Holmes quit as Home Secretary Priti Patel’s aide, citing No10’s “toxic culture”.
Six more Tory MPS have also told Mr Johnson he should resign.
Labour’s Angela Rayner said Mr Johnson’s “lies to Parliament” about “rule-breaking at the heart of Government” had been exposed.
She added: “He should be tendering his resignation but is instead watering down the rules to save his own skin.”
Chris Bryant, chairman of the Commons Standards Committee, said: “‘If you break the rules, just rewrite the rule book’, is the motto of this despicable government.”
Cleaners and security guards last night protested at No10 over their poor treatment during Partygate.