Long overdue ethics appointment risks being fig leaf for bad ministerial behaviour

The Prime Minister has finally appointed a new ethics adviser, the Independent Adviser on Ministers’ Interests.

This is after a period of months where the government has had no ethics adviser, despite a catalogue of alleged misbehaviour by ministers.

Mike Clancy, General Secretary of Prospect, said:

“With the so-called Independent Adviser on Ministers’ Interests having no power to instigate his own investigations without the endorsement of the Prime Minister, this long overdue appointment risks being a fig leaf for the kind of poor ministerial behaviour we have seen in recent years.

“2023 must turn the page on the lack of accountability for those holding the highest offices.

“This is vital for the government to rebuild the trust of the public servants who work for it and the wider public.”