The Liberal Democrats have called for Parliament to have a say in the selection of Lord Geidt’s replacement as the Independent Adviser on Ministers’ Interests.
The party has said it is right and proper that Parliament plays a role in the vetting of Boris Johnson’s new ethics adviser after his last appointment was a prominent ally.
Geidt handed in his resignation yesterday evening amid a row over whether Johnson broke the Ministerial Code through lying about his lawbreaking in Number Ten during lockdown.
Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey MP said: “History has shown that Boris Johnson plainly can’t be trusted to choose the person who marks his homework.
“Even Lord Geidt could no longer stomach Johnson’s lies and lawbreaking.
“Parliament must be able to vet this next appointment so that Johnson can’t simply appoint one of his cronies. The Prime Minister mustn’t be allowed to duck accountability for his constant flouting of rules and standards.”
Responding to Lord Geidt’s resignation, Liberal Democrat Chief Whip Wendy Chamberlain MP said: “When both of Boris Johnson’s own ethics advisers have quit, it is obvious that he is the one who needs to go.
“This Prime Minister has constantly lied and broken the laws he wrote. It’s clear as day that he has broken the Ministerial Code too. For the good of Britain, the next resignation we should be hearing about is that of Boris Johnson.”