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So there we have it - the PM has chickened out of appointing a truly independent adviser on ministerial interests.
The new adviser, Lord Geidt, can raise issues with the PM that he believes warrant investigation- but nothing on him being able to actually start his own inquiries
The new adviser, Lord Geidt, can raise issues with the PM that he believes warrant investigation- but nothing on him being able to actually start his own inquiries
And Lord Geidt also has no ability to publish the findings of his investigations independently. He can just 'require' that his advice 'is published in a timely manner' - but the decision on that is still in the hands of the PM
Good to see that his annual report will be published independently of government, but that's not really good enough, is it - any investigations during a year should be published too.
And the PM retains the ultimate decision on any sanctions for a breach of the ministerial code - imo, this is the right call, as the government argue here
Even without extra powers, Lord Geidt will be busy straight away, looking into the Downing Street refurb...
All in all, a disappointingly slight expansion to the remit of the adviser - Johnson has missed another opportunity to clear up the standards of behaviour in his government
