Lord Geidt quits: the ‘impossible’ job of Boris Johnson’s ethics adviser

Boris Johnson’s ethics adviser has resigned, saying he was put in an “impossible and odious position”.

Lord Geidt had threatened to quit last month after concluding that there were “legitimate” questions about whether the prime minister broke the ministerial code over the lockdown parties scandal in Downing Street, something Johnson denies.

Earlier this week, Geidt admitted that he felt “frustration” over Partygate, but Sky News said “the ultimate reason for his departure was a separate issue, apparently relating to potential future decisions on trade tariffs”.

Johnson is said to be considering whether to advertise for his third ethics adviser in three years.

What does an ethics adviser do?

The position comes with a series of responsibilities, including scrutinising all interest declarations from ministers, providing advice to ministers on how to handle their interests, and overseeing the production of a statement of ministers’ interests twice a year, said The National.

If a minister is alleged to have breached the ministerial code, the prime minister can refer the matter to his independent adviser on ministers’ interests.

However, even if the independent adviser concludes there has been a breach of code, the decision on whether to keep that minister in their post remains solely with the PM. Sometimes this can enrage the adviser.

For instance, said the Daily Mail, Geidt’s predecessor, Sir Alex Allan, “stormed off” after Johnson found that Priti Patel had not breached the code, despite Allan’s conclusion that she had not “consistently met the high standards expected of her”.

Who is Geidt?

Christopher Edward Wollaston MacKenzie Geidt grew up on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides. He was educated at the Dragon School, Oxford, and Glenalmond College.

After serving in the Army and Foreign Office, he spent several years working for the Royal Family. He worked as assistant private secretary to the Queen, then deputy private secretary, before becoming the Queen’s main private secretary from 2007 to 2017. He was described by author Tina Brown as “one of the Queen’s most formidably competent private secretaries”.

After leaving Buckingham Palace he was made a lord, receiving the title Baron Geidt of Crobeg, before being appointed as Johnson’s independent adviser on ministers’ interests in April last year.

What has he done in the role?

Geidt presided over a period of considerable political turbulence for the government. After exactly one month in the role, he published a report on allegations surrounding the financing of refurbishments made to 11 Downing Street.

Article source: https://www.theweek.co.uk/news/uk-news/956936/christopher-geidt-the-onerous-job-of-boris-johnsons-ethics-adviser