Labor will press Boris Johnson to quickly replace his ethics adviser in an attempt to make sure the post is effectively filled within two months, or a potentially more hostile candidate is installed.
The party proposed a “backstop” plan to make sure Johnson did not evade scrutiny after Downing Street refused to commit to replacing Christopher Geidt, who resigned last week over alleged breaches of the ministerial code by the former. minister.
Keir Starmer, the Labor leader, will say that if the post is not filled on 16 August, then a parliamentary committee chaired by a Conservative MP who has been deeply critical of Johnson should be able to appoint someone to carry out his duties. effectively.
The adviser on ministerial interests reports to the Commission on Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs (Pacac) and is empowered to initiate its own investigations into breaches of the ministerial code, to ask the commission to demand documents and to call witnesses. issue a final report. .
Those who refuse to comply with the committee’s request could be considered in contempt of Parliament.
A Conservative MP said: “Before the vote of confidence, the Prime Minister promised my Conservative colleagues that he would change, and many of them believed him. their promises “.
As the move would create a new position in the House of Commons instead of the government, Labor sources were confident the motion would be binding if passed during an opposition day debate on Tuesday.
William Wragg, the Conservative MP who chairs Pacac, has previously called on Johnson to resign following the Partygate scandal.
Given Johnson’s 80-seat majority, government whips are likely to have the numbers to vote against him.
Many MPs are also expected to be away from Westminster on Tuesday, given the railway strikes and the final push by activists ahead of the two by-elections to be held on Thursday in Wakefield, Tiverton and Honiton.
Labor sources believe Conservative MPs will be ordered to vote against the motion and that Downing Street will argue that Johnson should not face possible further investigations while he is still being investigated by the privileges committee for allegedly misleading parliament. .
But one said: “If the government decides to ignore our motion, it is an admission that they cannot order their side to vote against.”
Angela Rayner, the deputy leader of Labor, said Johnson had left an “ethical gap” on Downing Street and that the 10th should be put in “special measures to prevent this prime minister from breaking the rules, dodging responsibility and degrading standards of public life. ”
He added that while the “supple” prime minister was being “supported in office” by Conservative MPs, the proposal would ensure that a multi-party group of MPs had the power to “intervene and control the behavior of this rogue prime minister”. until a new genuinely independent adviser is confirmed ”.
Rayner said that in addition to replacing Geidt, the government’s ethics adviser should also significantly improve his powers.
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Geidt withdrew last week after accusing Johnson of trying to break the ministerial code, which No. 10 said was about steel tariffs that could have violated World Trade Organization rules.
But Geidt said at the time that Downing Street’s reason for his departure was a “distraction” and that the steel issue was “simply an example of what could still be deliberate breaches by the UK of its obligations.” under international law “.
Over the weekend it was reported that Geidt was due to meet with two Conservative MPs at the center of a complaint he was resolving the day he resigned. Nusrat Ghani alleged that her “Muslimity” was raised when she was removed from a ministerial job in 2020, and said she was told she was “uncomfortable with her peers”.
Mark Spencer, then chief whip, identified himself as the government member who spoke to Ghani, but said the allegations were “completely false and I consider them defamatory.”
Geidt’s report on the investigation has not yet been released, and the Liberal Democrats have called on Johnson to make sure he is released.