SCANDAL-HIT U.K. LEADER’S ETHICS ADVISER RESIGNS

The ethics adviser to Britain’s scandal-hit Prime Minister Boris Johnson has quit and accused the Conservative government of planning to flout conduct rules, weeks after a separate investigation criticized the U.K. leader for overseeing a culture of government rulebreaking.

Christopher Geidt stepped down late Wednesday as Independent Adviser on Ministers’ Interests, a decision the government said came as a surprise.

In a resignation letter, which was published Thursday by the government, Geidt said he was put in an “impossible and odious position” because the prime minister had asked him to advise on measures that would “risk a deliberate and purposeful breach of the Ministerial Code” that regulates government conduct.

He did not elaborate but said: “I can have no part in this.”

In a response, Johnson indicated the issue concerned tariffs imposed to protect a “crucial industry” which might “be seen to conflict with our obligations” under the World Trade Organization.

The government declined to confirm reports that the industry is steelmaking, citing “commercial sensitivity.” Britain has imposed restrictions on imports of Chinese steel to protect its domestic industry.

Johnson’s government kept most of the “steel safeguard” measures in place last year, overruling advice from its trade advisory body to lift some of them. Ministers are currently considering whether to extend them again.

Johnson’s spokesman said “no decisions have been taken” on what to do about the tariffs.

The resignation of his hand-picked ethics adviser is the latest blow for Johnson. He survived a no-confidence vote by his own Conservative Party last week but was left weakened after 41 percent of Conservative lawmakers voted to remove him.

No replacement has been named for Geidt. Johnson’s spokesman, Max Blain, said the prime minister was reviewing “how best to carry out” the ethics role.