Yes it is Boris - not the tennis player.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics...-over-breaches
Boris Johnson is changing the rules to let ministers avoid resigning if they break the ministerial code, allowing them to apologise or temporarily lose their pay instead.
The prime minister, who is himself facing claims of breaching the code, published a policy statement on Friday saying it is “disproportionate to expect that any breach, however minor, should lead automatically to resignation or dismissal”
A new version of the ministerial code has been published, suggesting that in future ministers are likely to face making a “public apology, remedial action, or removal of ministerial salary for a period” if they retain the confidence of the prime minister.
One of the reasons for changing the rules is to “avoid incentives for trivial or vexatious complaints which may be made for partisan reasons”, it says after a slew of complaints about ministers’ conduct from Labour and the Liberal Democrats.
The change comes as Johnson faces his own investigation by the privileges committee into whether he misled parliament by claiming there were no parties in No 10 during lockdown and that the rules were followed at all times.
The ministerial code continues to say that it is a resignation matter if a minister “knowingly” misleads the House of Commons.
However, if Johnson is found to have breached other principles of public life, such as lacking openness and honesty, then the changes to the rules make it less likely that he would be automatically expected to resign.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics...-over-breaches
Boris Johnson is changing the rules to let ministers avoid resigning if they break the ministerial code, allowing them to apologise or temporarily lose their pay instead.
The prime minister, who is himself facing claims of breaching the code, published a policy statement on Friday saying it is “disproportionate to expect that any breach, however minor, should lead automatically to resignation or dismissal”
A new version of the ministerial code has been published, suggesting that in future ministers are likely to face making a “public apology, remedial action, or removal of ministerial salary for a period” if they retain the confidence of the prime minister.
One of the reasons for changing the rules is to “avoid incentives for trivial or vexatious complaints which may be made for partisan reasons”, it says after a slew of complaints about ministers’ conduct from Labour and the Liberal Democrats.
The change comes as Johnson faces his own investigation by the privileges committee into whether he misled parliament by claiming there were no parties in No 10 during lockdown and that the rules were followed at all times.
The ministerial code continues to say that it is a resignation matter if a minister “knowingly” misleads the House of Commons.
However, if Johnson is found to have breached other principles of public life, such as lacking openness and honesty, then the changes to the rules make it less likely that he would be automatically expected to resign.
