Boris Johnson has been accused of "corruption" after watering down the ministerial code and blocking his ethics adviser the power to probe him.
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton slammed the Prime Minister days after Sue Gray criticised the leadership inside Downing Street.
Johnson has issued a new version for minister which now allows them to break rules without having to resign.
Reacting to the news, Cole-Hamilton tweeted: "Corruption, plain and simple.
"He has disgraced this country and the great office he holds."
Lord Geidt, Johnson's ethics adviser, asked for the power to launch investigations following the row into the PM's Downing Street flat.
Our sister paper, the Mirror, understands aides in No 10 discussed plans to strengthen Lord Geidt’s role before the publication of Sue Gray's report, but that they then had to put them to the PM to give his permission.
The Independent Adviser on the Ministerial Code will now get their own office, staff and website however the department would still need the "consent" of the PM to launch probes.
If an investigation finds a minister broke the rules it will now be down to the PM to have the final say on the matter.
A new version the ministerial code was also published today which watered down punishments available to the PM and ministers.
In the past if a minister broke the code then they should offer their resignation immediately.
Now, the PM will be allowed to "retain confidence" in a minister if they broke the code.
The policy statement announcing the changes read: “It is disproportionate to expect that any breach, however minor, should lead automatically to resignation or dismissal.”
In a letter to William Wragg, chair of the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee in January, Lord Geidt indicated that he believed his office should hold the power to launch independent investigations without permission from the PM.
And he wrote: “I would expect by the time of my next Annual Report in April to be able to describe the role of Independent Adviser in terms of considerably greater authority, independence and effect, consistent with the ambitions for the office that the Prime Minister has set out.”
North East Fife Lib Dem MP Wendy Chamberlain hit out at the Prime Minister over the changes.
She told the Mirror: "It seems the Conservatives have learnt nothing from the Owen Paterson scandal.
"The Prime Minister shouldn't be allowed to decide on his own punishment - with zero accountability. This is making him judge and jury in his own case.
"If the privileges committee finds Boris Johnson lied to Parliament, surely Conservative MPs will have no choice but to sack him."
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