The Prime Minister’s ethics adviser Lord Geidt resigned a day after raising a “legitimate concern” about whether Boris Johnson had breached ministerial guidelines over Party gate.
Although, Lord Geidt did not specify a reason for his departure from the position he assumed in April. But stated that it is the “proper thing” to do.
Infact, Sir Alex Allan, his predecessor, resigned in 2020. It was when Prime Minister Boris Johnson overruled him on a probe into alleged bullying by Home Secretary Priti Patel.
Therefore, Lord Geidt’s decision stunned the government.
“While we are disappointed. We thank Lord Geidt for his public service,” a spokeswoman stated. The spokeswoman cited no explanation for the departure.
But stated that Lord Geidt requested this week “to provide advice on a commercially sensitive topic of national concern. It had cross-party support. No choice had been made in the absence of that counsel.”
Issues about resignation
No. 10 did not specify what these remarks were about. There are “issues about the details of the resignation,” Justice Secretary Dominic Raab said. Adding that No 10 will offer an update later on Thursday.
He stated Lord Geidt had been subjected to “quite bruising questioning by MPs this week”. The media and politicians “underestimate how civil servants feel under that sort of scrutiny.”
According to a Downing Street source, Lord Geidt’s retirement came as a “complete surprise and a mystery” to Prime Minister David Cameron.
According to a Downing Street source, who added: “Only on Monday, Lord Geidt asked if he might remain on for six months.”
Thus, Lord Geidt’s resignation letter should be disclosed.
As per the Labour’s Chris Bryant, chairman of the Commons’ Committee on Standards and Privileges, who said on Radio 4’s Today: “I hope the Cabinet Office will publish that letter today.”
“If the letter and the Prime Minister’s reply are not public, I believe people will draw their own judgement. It will not be favourable,” said Sir Philip Mawer. He is a former parliamentary commissioner for standards.
Moreover, he said he is “disappointed but not shocked” by Lord Geidt’s departure. Adding that the Prime Minister had a “succession of failures” and “it’s not only Partygate.”
Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner said. “The Prime Minister has now caused both of his selected ethics advisers to leave in despair.” “How can anyone believe he is suited to rule if even they couldn’t justify his behavior in office?”
“When both of Boris Johnson’s own ethical advisers depart. It is evident that he is the one who has to go,” Liberal Democrat top whip Wendy Chamberlain said.
Lord Geidt: Who is he?
Christopher Geidt, a former army intelligence officer. He worked as a diplomat in Sarajevo, Brussels, and Geneva, was born in 1961.
Then, from 2002 until 2007, he worked for the Royal Household. He served as the Queen’s private secretary for ten years.
According to the Times, he stood down amid a “power struggle” between Buckingham Palace and the Prince of Wales in 2017.
Most importantly, Lord Geidt reportedly intended to resign when the Sue Gray investigation into Downing Street lockdown breaches released last month, unless Mr. Johnson gave a public apology for his actions.
Furthermore, On Tuesday, Lord Geidt told a committee of MPs: “One of the few, if brutal, instruments open to the adviser is resignation. I’m delighted my annoyances were addressed in this manner. “
Geidt’s annoyance with his job was palpable
Firstly, Lord Geidt informed the Prime Minister’s chief private secretary of his resignation on Wednesday evening. At around 18:30 BST, Mr. Johnson was notified of the decision.
While the timing has shocked some in Downing Street, Lord Geidt’s dissatisfaction with the role has been obvious for some time.
For a fact, he declared in a report last month that it is a valid question to wonder if Boris Johnson had broken the ministerial code by breaching COVID restrictions.
Moreover, Lord Geidt stated in the report he did not like the terms of his employment. He stated that “the existing arrangements remained insufficiently independent to command the trust of the public.”
However, we don’t know for sure why Lord Geidt quit. His resignation letter not made public, which is unusual.
In conclusion, the Prime Minister is scheduled to respond to Lord Geidt in a letter, which might be made public, on Thursday morning.
