Rishi Sunak appoints ethics adviser but accused of preserving ‘rotten regime’

Sir Laurie Magnus takes up long-vacant position – but PM holds power to veto investigations

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has appointed an ethics adviser (James Manning/PA) (PA Wire)

Rishi Sunak has appointed a new ethics adviser after a six-month vacancy but has been condemned for clinging onto the personal power to veto any investigation into ministers.

Historic England chairman Sir Laurie Magnus was announced as the successor to Lord Geidt – who quit after a turbulent tenure under Boris Johnson – as the adviser on ministers’ interests.

But the prime minister ignored calls from the Committee on Standards in Public Life and others to give his top adviser the power to start their own investigation without his permission.