Geidt: Carrie claims ripe for investigation

Lord Geidt, PM’S former ethics adviser, says inquiry is needed as Lib Dem MP questions No10’s ‘conduct’

Lord Geidt believes allegations that Boris Johnson attempted to appoint his future wife to a senior government job “could be ripe for investigation”, The Daily Telegraph can disclose. Mr Johnson’s former ethics adviser, who resigned in protest over a “deliberate” breach of the ministerial code, thinks the incident could be a matter for his successor. Downing Street has said Lord Geidt will not be replaced immediately, and that the position of No10 ethics adviser could be scrapped altogether.

‘Members will remain concerned regarding the standards and conduct of those in Downing Street’

LORD GEIDT believes allegations that Boris Johnson attempted to appoint his future wife to a senior Government job “could be ripe for investigation”, The Daily Telegraph can reveal.

Mr Johnson’s former ethics adviser, who resigned last week in protest against a “deliberate” breach of the ministerial code, thinks the alleged incident could be a matter for his successor.

Downing Street has said Lord Geidt will not be replaced immediately, and his position of No10 ethics adviser could be scrapped altogether.

But Lord Geidt is understood to believe that recent changes to the standards rules, which allow an adviser to suggest topics to investigate, could prompt an inquiry into the alleged incident concerning Mrs Johnson.

On Friday, The Times published claims that Mr Johnson had attempted to appoint Carrie Johnson as chief of staff in the Foreign Office while he was foreign secretary.

The newspaper said Mr Johnson was persuaded not to make the appointment by aides, including Ben Gascoigne, one of his closest allies.

The story was published in the first edition of The Times on Saturday, but removed from later editions after the intervention of No 10 staff.

Downing Street and a spokesman for Mrs Johnson have both strongly denied the claims. Lord Geidt said the topic “could be ripe” for a formal investigation, which could lead to top officials, including Mr Gascoigne, being called to interview.

The question of whether claims about Mr Johnson trying to appoint his future wife will be investigated were also raised in the Commons yesterday.

MPS said the process of investigating misconduct was now unclear following the resignation of Lord Geidt.

It was alleged that the pair’s relationship was not public at the time, and that Mr Johnson was still married to his second wife, Marina Wheeler.

But following the report’s publication, Dominic Cummings, Mr Johnson’s former chief adviser, said that he believed it was true.

Last night Wendy Chamberlain, a Liberal Democrat MP, raised the matter in a point of order in the House of Commons. She said it could not be investigated by an independent official because of Lord Geidt’s resignation last week. No10 has said the role will now be reviewed and he will not be immediately replaced.

“Following the resignation of the Prime Minister’s independent adviser on ministerial standards, there is currently no mechanism by which any investigation under the Ministerial Code can be undertaken into the Prime Minister’s conduct, other than at the behest of the Prime Minister himself,” Ms Chamberlain said.

“While the Ministerial Code remains a matter of Government, members will remain concerned regarding the standards and conduct of those in Downing Street,” she added.

Separately, The Telegraph understands that Liz Truss is set to be questioned about the claims in a select committee appearance next week.

MPS on the foreign affairs committee, who are questioning the Foreign Secretary next Thursday, are planning to ask her about the claims.

A spokesman for Mrs Johnson said

report was “totally untrue”.