Found: The conduct of Lord Geidt Commissioner’s report (COND/23 -24/10), Lord Geidt’s appeal and supporting

Found: Grimstone of Boscobel Lord Boateng Lord Hannay of Chiswick Lord Fox Lord Howell of Guildford Lord

Found: The Members of the International Agreements Committee are: Lord Fox Lord Kerr of Kinlochard Lord

Found: The Members of the International Agreements Committee are: Lord Fox Lord Kerr of Kinlochard Lord

Found: The Members of the International Agreements Committee are: Lord Fox Lord Kerr of Kinlochard Lord

Found: CPTPP) Tuesday 5 December 2023 4 pm Watch the meeting Members present: Lord Goldsmith (The Chair); Lord

Found: Membership The Members of the International Agreements Committee are: Lord Fox Lord Kerr of Kinlochard Lord

Found: Membership The Members of the International Agreements Committee are: Lord Fox Lord Kerr of Kinlochard Lord

Found: Geidt: Lord Grimstone of Boscobel; Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town; Lord Howell of Guildford; Lord

Found: /publications/advice-from-the-independent-adviser-on-ministers-interests-december-2021/letter- from-lord-geidt-to-the-prime-minister

Found: Membership The Members of the International Agreements Committee are: Lord Fox Lord Kerr of Kinlochard Lord

Found: Membership The Members of the International Agreements Committee are: Lord Fox Lord Kerr of Kinlochard Lord

Found: Thursday 20 July 2023 11 am Watch the meeting Members present: Lord Goldsmith (The Chair); Lord Fox; Lord

Found: I remember Lord Geidt decided that what had happened in relation to the redecoration of Downing

Found: Membership The Members of the International Agreements Committee are: Lord Fox Baroness Kingsmill Lord

Found: Membership The Members of the International Agreements Committee are: Lord Fox Baroness Kingsmill Lord

Found: Membership The Members of the International Agreements Committee are: Lord Fox Baroness Kingsmill Lord

Found: Membership The Members of the International Agreements Committee are: Lord Fox Baroness Kingsmill Lord

Found: Membership The Members of the International Agreements Committee are: Lord Fox Baroness Kingsmill Lord

Found: Membership The Members of the International Agreements Committee are: Lord Fox Baroness Kingsmill Lord

Found: Membership The Members of the International Agreements Committee are: Lord Fox Baroness Kingsmill Lord

Found: Membership The Members of the International Agreements Committee are: Lord Fox Lord Marland Lord Geidt

Found: Membership The Members of the International Agreements Committee are: Lord Fox Lord Marland Lord Geidt

Found: Membership The Members of the International Agreements Committee are: Lord Fox Lord Marland Lord Geidt

Found: Did you suggest any changes to the terms of reference as they applied to Lord Geidt when he was in

Found: Act 2010 Membership The Members of the International Agreements Committee are: Lord Fox Lord Marland Lord

Found: As the then Independent Adviser on Ministerial Interests, Lord Geidt, told the House of Commons Public

Found: The Independent Adviser on Minister 's Interests Rt Hon Lord Geidt, The Independent Adviser on Minister

Found: ˜is include the failure to supply the then Independent Adviser on Ministers™ Interests, Lord Geidt,

Found: There is no replacement for Lord Geidt, the independent adviser on ministerial interests.

Found: The new arrangements fail to address the risk of what Lord Geidt describes as a ficircular processfl:

Found: Lord Geidt, the quit his role in June 2022 citing being put by respo nse suggested this

Found: The investigation had not been completed by Lord Geidt prior to his resignation.

Found: Training for Staff The Prime Minister set out in his letter to Lord Geidt of 21 December his commitment

Found: I would refer you to the published correspondence between the Prime Minister and Lord Geidt in December

Found: but you authorised an investigation into Mark Spencer’s alleged Islamophobia, which I gather Lord

Found: one holding the position of independent advisor on ministerial standards following the resignation of Lord

Found: Simon Case: Do you mean an excuse on Lord Geidt™sŠChair: Yes.

Found: Letter from Lord Geidt relating to the clarification regarding his resignation, dated 17.6.22 Correspondence

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make it his policy to require ministers to resign if they are found to have made an minor breach of the ministerial code.

Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Ministerial Code is clear that graduated sanctions are in place for breaches of the Code; this is set out in paragraph 1.7. This has formally been part of the Code since May 2022 when the Code was amended, but this approach has just reflected actual practice from previous Administrations under successive Prime Ministers.

That formal amendment to the Code followed recommendations from the Committee on Standards in Public Life in 2021. The Chair of the Committee noted: “The current expectation that any breach of the Ministerial Code should lead to resignation is disproportionate. We recommend that there should be a proportionate range of sanctions” (Lord Evans correspondence to the Prime Minister, 15 April 2021).

The (then) Prime Minister agreed with this recommendation in his reply of 28 April 2021, explaining: “I agree with your recommendation... this has always been the case, but over time, an expectation has arisen that any breach should lead automatically to resignation, which I agree is disproportionate.”

The (then) Independent Adviser on Ministerial Interests, Lord Geidt, also concurred in his Annual Report of May 2021, noting: "I believe its [the Code’s] status is likely to be enhanced by a more proportionate approach to sanctions”.

The Committee repeated this recommendation in their ‘Standards Matter 2’ final report published in September 2021.

I would also observe that both Houses of Parliament takes a similar approach to breaches of the Code of Conduct by Parliamentarians, as do employers in their HR processes across the public and private sector.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the status of the investigation by Prime Minister’s Independent Adviser on Ministers’ Interests into the events related to the hon. Member for Wealden's departure from Government in February 2020 is; and with reference to the Cabinet Secretary’s oral evidence to the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee on 28 June 2022, Q448, whether his Department provided briefing to the Prime Minister on that matter.

Answered by Michael Ellis

This investigation had not been completed by Lord Geidt prior to his resignation. The investigation, therefore, remains outstanding.

The Prime Minister has taken the decision that the investigation should be a matter for a new Independent Adviser function, as soon as appointed by his successor.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the investigation by the Prime Minister’s Independent Adviser on Ministers’ Interests into the events related to the hon. Member for Wealden's departure from Government in February 2020, for what reason that report has not been published; and if he will publish that report before a new Prime Minister takes office.

Answered by Michael Ellis

This investigation had not been completed by Lord Geidt prior to his resignation. The investigation, therefore, remains outstanding.

The Prime Minister has taken the decision that the investigation should be a matter for a new Independent Adviser function, as soon as appointed by his successor.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to the Answer of 21 June 2022 to Question 19605 on Lord Geidt, what criteria he uses for deciding when to request the advice of the Independent Adviser on Ministers' Interests on matters relating to the national interest.

Answered by Boris Johnson

From time to time, issues may arise relating to the national interest, and in these cases it is helpful to obtain advice on how those issues may be best addressed to avoid or mitigate potential conflicts under the Ministerial Code.

I also refer the Hon. Member to the Terms of Reference on the Independent Adviser (as of May 2022), which sets out the Adviser’s role in providing confidential advice to the Prime Minister. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/terms-of-reference-for-the-independent-adviser-on-ministers-interests--2/terms-of-reference-independent-adviser-on-ministers-interests

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department plans to abolish the post of the Independent Adviser on Ministers' Interests.

Answered by Michael Ellis

In light of the resignation of the Independent Adviser, Lord Geidt, on 15 June 2022, and the issues raised both by Lord Geidt and the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee about the adviser’s role, the Government is taking time to consider how best to fulfil the Prime Minister's commitment to ensuring rigorous oversight and scrutiny of ministerial interests.

The process of managing ministerial interests continues in line with the Ministerial Code, which sets out that the Permanent Secretary in the department and the Cabinet Office can provide advice, and have a role in scrutinising interests.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Prime Minister, for what reasons he sought the advice of Lord Geidt in his former role as Independent Adviser on Ministers' Interests on the matter relating to the Trade Remedies Authority referred to by the Prime Minister in his letter of 16 June 2022 in response to Lord Geidt's resignation letter of 15 June 2022.

Answered by Boris Johnson

As I set out in my letter of 16 June, this request for advice related to a matter in the national interest on protecting a crucial industry that would otherwise suffer material harm.

Found: the Independent Adviser may in most cases ask for the reasons to be made public. 149 On 15 June 2022 Lord

Found: reports in June 2022 also linked this to the exchange of letters in the wake of the resignation of Lord

Found: The Members of the International Agreements Committee are: Lord Fox Lord Kerr of Kinlochard Lord

He's already (rightly) promised to appoint a new ethics adviser to succeed Lord Geidt, but threats to integrity are broader than that. We need stronger protections to keep lobbying clean, & to stop conflicts of interest from past or future employers too.... [2/3]

@ElectoralCommUK @HouseofCommons @johnmcdonnellMP @PublicStandards Sir John tells us that it is very concerning that two independent advisers have resigned under the current government, and that from his personal experience of working with both Sir Alex Allen and Lord Geidt are people of the highest integrity.

Simon Case when asked about the Prime Minister not providing his Whatsapp messages to Lord Geidt, says he does not know if the messages were wiped

As you may expect with such a diverse @BBCPolitics panel, many differing views on what the PM needs to do for a successful reset, but all agree a successor to Lord Geidt is necessary. Majority want more powers and independence too: https://t.co/QCAcUEE0Sb

We have published the letter sent to us By Lord Geidt clarifying his reasons for resigning as the Independent Advisor on Ministerial Interests. https://t.co/7ZLFYb7rsU https://t.co/hdq3v2YNKJ

Questions about ethics and integrity won't disappear if we ignore them, so choosing a new PM’s Independent Advisor on the Minister Code to replace Lord Geidt is vital, as I outlined on BBC Radio 4 Today programme: https://t.co/F0sbRPkNyw

Who’s have though that liar Johnson would lie and spin the reasons Lord Geidt resigned? This Government is the most dishonest the country has ever had the misfortune of experiencing. https://t.co/pYPvkxFyh2

We are all more confused than ever. Lord Geidt reveals the reasons for his resignation as Boris Johnson's ethics adviser | ITV News https://t.co/DofrRxk0Ms

Lord Geidt resigned as ethics adviser because of the odious behaviour of Boris Johnson’s Downing Street. It’s high time for Tory MPs to do the decent thing by showing this rotten, rule-breaking Prime Minister the door. https://t.co/YnICPBLawM

Helpful clarity from Lord Geidt to @CommonsPACAC that it isn’t steel that broke the camels back. https://t.co/qBHifvod0u

Independent Adviser role should be strengthened - new blog by Jonathan Evans following the resignation of Lord #Geidt #NolanPrinciples https://t.co/wsn0HAIWhc

@BBCPolitics It would be interesting to know what Lord Geidt thinks of Johnson’s response. I suspect he would dismiss it as bull .....

Statement from the Trade Remedies Authority on the Prime Minister's letter to Lord Geidt today -https://t.co/L1PLF8657n https://t.co/qyaNl1y5IK

Lord Geidt walked because of the odious behaviour of Boris Johnson’s Downing Street. They’ve made a mockery of the Ministerial Code. Time for Tory MPs to stop propping up this sleaze-ridden Prime Minister and back Labour’s plan to clean up politics. ⁦@PutneyFleur⁩?? https://t.co/C7UxzBxPPe

Lord Geidt confirms my concerns the PM failed to follow Nolan Principles (particularly leadership) over partygate Ministerial Code, & then goes even further. This is *not* OK - the Code matters! https://t.co/xBUNyEYTyM

Both of the PM’s ethics advisors have now resigned within two years. Lord Geidt says it was reasonable to suggest the PM may have breached Ministerial Code over Partygate. The Government should publish his resignation letter. https://t.co/wHE9H7KPyF

"I can have no part in this.” Lord Geidt speaks for us all. https://t.co/IG1OdmyaJi

If the Prime Minister consulted with his ethics adviser Lord #Geidt about breaking our treaty obligations on WTO rules, I wonder if he also consulted Lord #Geidt about the Ministerial Code implications of his Northern Ireland Protocol bill breaking our Brexit treaty obligations.

Correspondence from Lord Geidt and the Prime Minister's response - https://t.co/tAn1AlRCAE https://t.co/A5ZchV7jl7

Never mind the spin from liar Johnson et al. Lord Geidt resigned, as ethics adviser, because dishonest Johnson wanted him to turn a blind eye on a ‘deliberate and wilful’ breach of the Ministerial Code of conduct. And he, Lord Geidt, “could have no part in this”. https://t.co/FV3ZpdZ4un

Update - The Lord Geidt letter does exist - it’s now been released - he resigned after being put in an ‘odious’ position by the Prime Minister over a possible deliberate breach of the Ministerial Code

Why are cabinet minister’s saying they don’t know why Lord Geidt has resigned his position? ??‍♂️

Lord Geidt has quit as Boris Johnson's ethics adviser. The point is that if a Prime Minister can't tell right from wrong then he is unfit to be one. If he needs an adviser to tell him right from wrong then he is unfit to be Prime Minister. Johnson is unfit to be Prime Minister

Dominic Raab on @BBCRadio4 Today re Lord Geidt resignation - ‘I don’t know if there’s a letter’ then ‘I haven’t read the letter’

Did Lord Geidt not set out his reasons in his resignation letter? Where is it? https://t.co/LmXjfVzBTr

Lord Geidt has a distinguished record of public service. The fact of his resignation is not a surprise given the seriousness with which he took his duty to uphold the ministerial code. The timing of it says even more about him.

Boris Johnson’s ethics adviser Lord Geidt resigns after Partygate grilling. No ethics adviser can ever advise or save Johnson and cronies - thy are addicted to lying, rule-breaking and unethical practices. https://t.co/Dr3x6eWC5Q

Did Lord Geidt read this and went as a result ? .... https://t.co/M13BIIsapt

Lord Geidt has resigned as ethics adviser to Prime Minister. He is the 2nd person to resign as ethics adviser in less than 3 years. Sir Alex Allan quit in 2020 after Mr Johnson refused to accept his finding that Priti Patel had bullied civil servants. https://t.co/OAaV7GGUHY

Lord Geidt, the ultimate stooge, struggles to maintain the illusion of authority | John Crace | The Guardian https://t.co/o8B6x7vOge

Boris Johnson’s Conservative Government is rotten from top to bottom - and Lord Geidt is a watchdog on a leash. It’s little wonder we’ve seen so much rule-breaking and so little accountability on his watch. ? https://t.co/Gglu1BZTvz

When asked about his widely reported threat to resign following "miscommunication" with the PM on Partygate, Lord Geidt simply said "resignation is always on the agenda” but “a blunt tool”. ?

On the PM’s refusal to authorise an ethics investigation into his own law-breaking, Lord Geidt was quite clear on the incompatibility of breaking the law with the Ministerial Code. ❌

Lord Geidt observed that it has been "a busy year" in his role as adviser on ministerial misconduct. You can say that again. Boris Johnson’s government is mired in scandal - the Downing Street flat refurbishment, Rishi Sunak’s finances and of course Partygate to name a few. ?

On breaches of the Ministerial Code, Lord Geidt said “looking at the calendar, a great deal of the year has found the PM in scope". And “the amount of traffic going into his office has increased”. He is deluged by allegations of ministerial misconduct - including the PM’s. ?

The Prime Minister’s mysterious ethics adviser Lord Geidt appeared before MPs today after threatening to resign over attempts to rig the rules on misconduct. His words are not always the easiest to interpret - so here's what we learned. ???

The Chair thanks Lord Geidt for his attendance. Session Ends.

Lord Geidt: "It is a statement of fact that the Prime Minister has been potentially within the scope of the code for quite a lot of the period that I've been in this been in this role which I think has created its own pressures"

On if he considered resignation, Lord Geidt says "there are few instruments available to an independent advisor and it's important to consider what is going to work best in the interest of preserving the integrity of the system and of the code"

Lord Geidt: "it is a complex document and indeed, I don't pretend to be an expert in every part of the procedural dynamics of the ministerial code but from the practitioners level, I will assert that it's fundamentally workable"

Lord Geidt: "The case for fair and graduated sanctions is a very strong one and I do think it's important to emphasise that none of these changes mean that serious breaches of the code shouldn't remain serious"

Our newest Committee member, @BethWinterMP, asks Lord Geidt if he was consulted on the new ministerial code: "I was consulted on the code but only to the extent of testing its capacity to be made operational and to make sure to make sure that it worked"

Found: The Rt Hon The Lord Geidt was appointed on 28 April 2021 and proceeded to publish his first annual report

Found: In February 2022, the then Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP, asked my predecessor, Lord Geidt

Found: I appreciate you taking on the work of Lord Geidt and finishing this review.

Found: email to: C c: public@public - standards.gov.uk Dear Lor d Evans, resignation of Lord

Found: You suggest, however, that given the resignation of Lord Geidt as Independent Adviser on Ministers’ interests

Found: TRA statement following Prime Minister's letter to Lord Geidt

Found: Correspondence from Lord Geidt and the Prime Minister's response

Found: Correspondence from Lord Geidt and the Prime Minister's response

Found: Correspondence from Lord Geidt and the Prime Minister's response

Found: Statement from Lord Geidt: 15 June 2022

Found: Members noted the resignation on 15 June 2022 of Lord Geidt as Independent Adviser on Ministers’ Interests

Found: 05-25 00:00:00Ethics and honesty in public lifeLord Evans YesChairs of Independent Offices Lord Bew, Lord

Found: At present, following the resignation in June 2022 of Lord Geidt as the Independent Adviser on Ministers