Boris Johnson news – live: Ex-ethics adviser quit over PM’s ‘readiness to break law’

Lord Geidt said he was not prepared to endorse the government’s openness to breaking international law

Boris Johnson considering not replacing ethics adviser after Lord Geidt quits

Boris Johnson‘s former ethics adviser Christopher Geidt has said his resignation was prompted by the PM’s willingness to breach international law.

In a second letter to explain his shock decision to quit on Wednesday, Lord Geidt said that the details of the row over steel tariffs which finally provoked his departure were a “distraction” from his real motivation to leave his position.

He said that he walked out because he was unready to endorse the government’s openness to breaking its international obligations.

His comments suggest he may be concerned over Mr Johnson’s attempt to override the Northern Ireland Protocol in a way which will breach the Brexit treaty that he signed less than three years ago.

Meanwhile, the government has faced a backlash over reports it will not appoint a new ethics adviser after Lord Geidt’s resignation.

John Penrose, who quit as the anti-corruption tsar earlier this month over the Partygate scandal, said: “You can’t just pretend it doesn’t matter, and that there’s no job to be done.”

Key Points

• Lord Geidt quit as ethics adviser over PM’s ‘readiness to break law’
• New ethics adviser must be appointed, says former anti-corruption tsar
• Boris Johnson on surprise visit to Ukraine for talks with Zelensky
• PM accused of showing ‘total contempt’ for northern Tories
• Government is ‘making mess of our economy’, says Davey

[17 June 2022 11:38 · Rory Sullivan]

Brexit: It will ‘take a decade’ to resolve crisis in Ireland, David Davis warns

Former Brexit minister David Davis has warned that it will “take a decade” to solve the problems Brexit has inflicted on Ireland.

Speaking about the latest Northern Ireland protocol crisis, he said: “Ireland’s going to take a long time. It’s going to take a decade to get right, I think. Maybe I’m wrong about a decade, but it’s going to take years.”

[17 June 2022 12:00 · Rory Sullivan]

Government ‘whipping up’ division over Tube strikes, says Khan

Ministers are “whipping up” division about next week’s Tube strikes, London mayor Sadiq Khan has claimed.

He singled out Boris Johnson and Grant Shapps for allegedly making things difficult for communities and workers.

“At the core of this is the government... orchestrating and engineering and inciting a strike in London by attaching these conditions to the funding deal, which has got the trade unions really concerned,” Mr Khan said.

The mayor of London added: “The Tories are in government and this is classic deflecting from Shapps and Johnson who are responsible for this divisive politics, for whipping up them versus us, communities versus workers.

“And now they’ve got the audacity to blame Her Majesty’s Official Opposition for these strikes when it’s the government that’s in the cockpit.

“It’s punishing the wrong people - it’s the government who are attaching these strings, not Londoners, not our businesses, not our key workers.”

[17 June 2022 12:22 · Rory Sullivan]

Priti Patel signs order to extradite Julian Assange to US to face spying charges

Home secretary Priti Patel has signed an order to extradite Julian Assange to the US to face espionage charges.

The Wikileaks founder, who faces trial over his leaking of US intelligence, can launch an appeal over the next 14 days.

“In this case, the UK courts have not found that it would be oppressive, unjust or an abuse of process to extradite Mr Assange,” the Home Office said.

“Nor have they found that extradition would be incompatible with his human rights, including his right to a fair trial and to freedom of expression, and that whilst in the US he will be treated appropriately, including in relation to his health.”

[17 June 2022 12:40 · Rory Sullivan]

More than 11,000 asylum seekers reach UK this year

More than 11,000 people have reached Britain this year by crossing the Channel, the latest figures show.

By comparison, 5,911 people made the dangerous crossing over the same period last year.

On Thursday, 146 people arrived in Britain on four small boats.

In attempt to reduce crossings, the Home Office plans to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda. However, the first flight was cancelled earlier this week due to legal challenges.

[17 June 2022 13:04 · Rory Sullivan]

Inside Politics

Here’s today’s politics round-up, courtesy of my colleague Matt Mathers:

[17 June 2022 13:22 · Rory Sullivan]

Priti Patel has agreed to extradite Julian Assange

[17 June 2022 13:42 · Rory Sullivan]

Downing Street defends PM over ethics adviser debacle

Downing Street has said Boris Johnson does not have to appoint a new ethics adviser.

“He (the prime minister) will take advice from advisers within No 10 and others with expertise in this area and it may be that the prime minister decides to make a like-for-like replacement, or it might be that we set up a different body that undertakes the same functions.

“But the prime minister thinks it’s right to take the time to reflect on those issues which are well highlighted.”

Lord Evans, the chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, vehemently disagrees, warning that “removing this independent voice on standards issues at the heart of government would risk further damage to public perceptions of standards”.

[17 June 2022 14:00 · Adam Forrest]

Senior Tory MP ‘really disappointed’ as PM skips conference

Boris Johnson will not be going to Doncaster for the Northern Research Group (NRG) conference, despite telling the group of red wall Tory MPs he would appear on Friday afternoon.

Tory MP Jake Berry, chair of the NRG, said he had been told by No 10 that some government business had “come up”.

“It’s really disappointing,” said Mr Berry. “It’s an unfortunate thing, but at the end of the day he’s the prime minister of this country and things come up. It’s up to No 10 to explain what has come up.”

“I would have loved for him to come. We were all ready with an over ready set of policies … We will make sure he hears everything is said today. I’m going to phone him tomorrow.”

[17 June 2022 14:21 · Rory Sullivan]

Assange will ‘fight back’ against extradition order, says wife

Earlier today, the Home Office confirmed that Priti Patel had signed the order to extradite Julian Assange to the US, where he faces espionage charges over some of his WikiLeaks revelations.

Responding to the announcement, Stella Assange, his wife, said: “It is extremely difficult when his life is being decided by third parties - making life or death decisions based on politics.

“He’s very strong... we have to fight back.

“His instinct is to fight back and so is mine.

“We’re going to fight back harder.”

Mr Assange has two weeks to launch a challenge against Ms Patel’s order.

[17 June 2022 14:40 · Rory Sullivan]

Lord Geidt resignation: A short history of government ethics advisers

After Lord Geidt’s resignation, Boris Johnson has indicated that he might not replace him.

Here’s Joe Sommerlad with a history of government ethical advisers: