John Penrose, former anti-corruption tsar, says PM ‘shouldn’t be weakening role’ after ethics adviser’s resignation
The government’s former anti-corruption champion has said it would be “quite a big mistake” forThe prime minister’s official spokesperson said on Thursday that Johnson would not immediately start looking for a replacement for Geidt, but would instead review the system of enforcing the ministerial code.
But he made clear the final straw had been a request from Johnson for Geidt to approve a plan to extend tariffs on steel imports, which could break World Trade Organization rules, putting the government in breach of international law. “This is part of the reset, I would argue, which the prime minister has rightly said he wants to do after last week’s vote of no confidence. Good for him. This will be a good way of being part of that and moving it forward.”
He told Sky News he believed the prime minister upheld the highest standards required of his office, despite the resignation of Geidt.“I think Lord Geidt seems to have resigned on the discussion around when the prime minister asked him for advice for supporting industries in the next few months.