Ethics Code Shake-up Will Not 'Restore Public Trust'

Boris Johnson has failed to counter the view that he and his ministers consider themselves above the rules, the leader of a powerful parliamentary ethics watchdog has said.

- Liam James

Jonathan Evans, the chair of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, said Mr Johnson's planned changes to the ministerial code were "highly unsatisfactory" and undermined the role of the prime minister's ethics adviser.

Downing Street announced last week that the code would be updated to remove the expectation for ministers to resign over any breach of the code but would not allow the adviser, currently Lord Geidt, to launch his own investigation into potential breaches.

The changes go against recent recommendations by Mr Evans that a change to sanctions be linked to the increased authority of the adviser. Mr Evans said the proposed changes would not "restore public trust" in government standards.