Boris Johnson's ethics chief resigns after being blocked from investigating PM

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Lord Geidt has become the second of Boris Johnson's ethics advisors to quit. The dramatic announcement comes just days after the Independent Advisor on the Ministerial Code defended his role to a committee of MPs.

In a brief statement released by the government tonight, Lord Geidt said: "With regret, I feel that it is right that I am resigning from my post as Independent Adviser on Ministers’ Interests." During a committee appearance on Tuesday, Lord Geidt admitted he is an “asset of the PM” rather than enjoying full independence.

Speaking before the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee (PACAC), Lord Geidt was questioned on whether there was any point to his role as “Independent Advisor on the Ministerial Code”, given the Prime Minister still retains the power to block investigations. Lord Geidt’s role is directly appointed by the Prime Minister, who retains the sole power to judge whether the rules have been broken and impose sanctions, The Mirror reports.

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Labour MP John McDonnell suggested Lord Geidt’s role was “little more than a tin of whitewash.”

Lord Geidt accepted: “How can I defeat the impression that it’s a cosy, insufficiently independent relationship? It’s very hard. But I’m trying my best to work with what I’ve got.”

He described himself as an "an asset of the prime minister... rather than a free orbiting adviser." And he indicated he had not asked to open investigations into either the PM's involvement in Partygate, or the recent leak of legal advice relating to the Northern Ireland protocol. But he insisted changes to his role announced in May, which were accused of failing to