Mission Statement: to assist the integration of foreign residents living in Spain
By Peter McLaren-Kennedy • Published: 14 Jun 2022 • 11:21 • <1 minute read
Lord Geidt - Image gov.uk
Lord Geidt, who is due to appear today June 14, had said that it was a legitimate question whether the prime minister had broken the law. In response to the Sue Gray report and the subsequent police investigation, he had written to Johnson saying that the ministerial code was at risk of being in a place of “ridicule”.
He added that he had advised Downing Street officials that Mr Johnson should be “ready to offer public comment” on his obligations under the code, noting this had “not been heeded”.
The note, seen by the Express, said: “If a Prime Minister’s judgment is that there is nothing to investigate or no case to answer, he would be bound to reject any such advice, thus forcing the resignation of the independent adviser.
“Such a circular process could only risk placing the Ministerial Code in a place of ridicule.”
Lord Geidt had threatened to resign over Johnson’s response to his statements and handling of the situation, which would make him the second to resign from the post since Johnson came to power in 2019.
Sir Alex Allan stepped down in November 2020 over the way the ministerial code was being implemented by the current Government.
The Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee will hear from Lord Geidt just eight days after Johnson survived a vote of no confidence. That could spell more trouble for Johnson with many Conservative MPs still at unease with the prime minister’s behaviour.
The commons hearing, which will see the prime minister’s own adviser commenting on his behaviour, could prove devastating for Johnson’s support amongst both the voting public and his party.
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Originally from South Africa, Peter is based on the Costa Blanca and is a web reporter for the Euro Weekly News covering international and Spanish national news. Got a news story you want to share? Then get in touch at editorial@euroweeklynews.com.
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