No 10 lifeline for ministers who break code

BORIS JOHNSON has made clear that ministers who break the ministerial code should not necessarily have to resign, unless they are found to have knowingly misled Parliament.

In a review of ministerial standards rules, published yesterday, the Prime Minister also rejected his ethics adviser’s request to allow him to launch investigations into ministers’ behaviour without first seeking Mr Johnson’s permission.

It has long been the convention that ministers who break the code are expected to resign. The new code makes it clear that a prime minister can choose what sanction, if any, a minister receives.

According to a Cabinet Office statement, sanctions available to Mr Johnson could include “some form of public apology, remedial action or removal of ministerial salary for a period”.

The rules state that any minister who knowingly misleads Parliament is still expected to tender their resignation.

Mr Johnson has previously faced criticism for failing to take ministerial standards seriously. In 2020, a Cabinet Office review found Priti Patel, the Home Secretary, had broken the code by bullying civil servants.

Mr Johnson decided to take no further action, prompting the resignation of his ethics adviser, Sir Alex Allan.

Lord Geidt, Mr Johnson’s current ethics adviser, asked to launch his own inquiries into code breaches in January, amid frustration that No10 had not disclosed key messages between Mr Johnson and Lord Brownlow, who funded a refurb of the Downing Street flat, during his investigation into the issue.

A review into Lord Geidt’s powers, published yesterday, concluded Mr Johnson should “normally” agree to a suggested investigation into one of his ministers, but can refuse if he believes the inquiry would not be in the public interest.