By Ben Kerrigan-
Boris Johnson’s ethics adviser Lord Geidt has resigned after saying there was a “legitimate question” over whether the PM had broken ministerial rules over Partygate.
Lord Geidt did not give a reason for his departure, but in a statement he said it was the “right thing” to do, adding that he was leaving the role he took up in April ”with regret
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It comes a day after he spoke of “frustrations” with the PM’s actions.
A government spokesperson said it was “surprised by this decision, given Lord Geidt’s commitment to the role, to the prime minister”.
“Whilst we are disappointed, we thank Lord Geidt for his public service,” they added.
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The spokesperson gave no reason for the resignation but said Lord Geidt had been asked this week “to provide advice on a commercially sensitive matter in the national interest, which has previously had cross-party support. No decision had been taken pending that advice”.
No 10 did not make it clear what these comments referred to Boris Johnson appoints new ministerial standards adviser.
A Downing Street source told the BBC that Lord Geidt’s resignation had been a “total surprise and a mystery” to the prime minister, adding: “Only on Monday Lord Geidt asked if he could stay on for six months.”
His predecessor as ethics adviser, Sir Alex Allan, resigned in 2020 after the prime minister overruled him over a report into alleged bullying by Home Secretary Priti Patel.
Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner said: “The prime minister has now driven both of his own handpicked ethics advisers to resign in despair.
“If even they can’t defend his conduct in office, how can anyone believe he is fit to govern?”
Liberal Democrat chief whip Wendy Chamberlain said: “When both of Boris Johnson’s own ethics advisers have quit, it is obvious that he is the one who needs to go.”
It was reported that Lord Geidt had threatened to quit last month after the publication of the Sue Gray report into lockdown breaches in Downing Street unless Mr Johnson issued a public explanation for his conduct.
Appearing before a committee of MPs on Tuesday, Lord Geidt said: “Resignation is one of the rather blunt but few tools available to the adviser. I am glad that my frustrations were addressed in the way that they were.”
Mr Wragg, a critic of Mr Johnson, added: “For the PM to lose one adviser on ministers’ interests may be regarded as a misfortune. To lose two looks like carelessness.”
Lord Geidt previously served as the Queen’s private secretary and before that he was an Army intelligence officer and diplomat
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