Steel tariffs not real reason I quit ethics post, says Geidt

LORD GEIDT has said steel tariffs are a distraction from the real reason he quit, as he criticised the Government for its apparent willingness to break international law.

Boris Johnson’s former ethics adviser made the comments in an email to William Wragg, chairman of the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee (PACAC).

He said there had been some “confusion” over the reason for his decision to quit, following the publication by the Government of his resignation letter.

Lord Geidt stated in the letter that his decision was triggered after “he 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”.

It is understood that the measures related to maintaining tariffs on Chinese steel imports, which could be considered a breach of the Ministerial Code because it would conflict with the UK’S obligations to the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

In the email to Mr Wragg, Lord Geidt said: “Since my letter of resignation was made public yesterday, there has been some confusion about the precise cause of my decision. My letter has been interpreted to suggest that an important issue of principle was limited to some narrow and technical consideration of steel tariffs.

“The cautious language of my letter may have failed adequately to explain the far wider scope of my objection.”

He added: ”Emphasis on the steel tariffs question is a distraction. It was simply one example of what might yet constitute deliberate breaches by the United Kingdom of its obligations under international law, given the Government’s widely publicised

‘The cautious language... may have failed adequately to explain the far wider scope of my objection’

openness to this.”

Lord Geidt clarified that he thought any breach of international law would also be considered a breach of the Ministerial Code.

It comes as Mr Johnson was accused by Chris Bryant, chair of the committee on standards, of “marking his own homework” by not appointing a new ethics adviser, after Number 10 said the role could be scrapped entirely.

Mr Johnson will be advised by nonindependent civil servants until a review into the role is concluded.