Boris Johnson’s former ethics adviser has accused the Prime Minister of preventing him from investigating his ministers by publicly saying there was 'no case' for a probe.
And another former No10 ethics advisor warned Mr Johnson’s government has “no clear moral compass” for behaviour - and a “succession” of scandals has rocked public confidence in politicians obeying the rules.
Sir Alex Allan resigned as the Prime Minister’s Independent Advisor on the Ministerial Code when Mr Johnson failed to take his advice following bullying allegations against Home Secretary Priti Patel.
He told a committee of MPs it was “unsatisfactory” that it was up to the Prime Minister to decide when an investigation should be launched into claims of ministerial rule-breaking.
Sir Alex told Parliament’s Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee (PACAC): “There were instances where I thought there was probably a case for an investigation based on press reports.
“But where before there was any question of that there was a statement from the PM or from No10 saying that the issue was completely acceptable, closed and no case for an investigation - in which case there was obviously no role for me at all.”
He admitted that during his time in the role he had “relatively little contact” with the Prime Minister - and what there was was “completely ad-hoc”.
Sir Alex welcomed his successor Lord Geidt securing a commitment for more contact with the Prime Minister as part of a widened remit for the role.
Lord Geidt was promised more access and more powers after it emerged he’d been kept in the dark about aspects of the investigation into the funding of Mr Johnson’s Downing Street flat refurbishment.
Sir Alex’s predecessor Sir Philip Mawer, who did the job under Gordon Brown and David Cameron, told the same committee there had been a “succession of events recently that have called into question public confidence in the conduct of politicians, and must be a concern to politicians of all parties.”
He said such incidents “bring what I believe is the honourable profession of politics into disrepute.”
“One of the key things that has emerged from this succession of events is a sense that there's no clear moral compass by which ethical direction is set,” he said.
“I believe the ministerial code, suitably updated and with additional powers to the independent adviser...could help to restore public confidence in a way which it's been seriously damaged recently. I think I've probably said enough.”
Sir Alex said there were “issues” about how allegations against the Prime Minister were dealt with.
“It is very awkward that it's the Prime Minister who has to decide whether there should be an investigation into himself or herself.
“I think the position would be strengthened if the Independent Advisor is the one who decided whether or not there should be an investigation.”
