England’s anti-sleaze watchdog is to probe whether the Prime Minister’s role in investigating ministers should be cut in the wake of the Priti Patel “bullying” scandal.
The Committee on Standards in Public Life is to examine whether the Prime Minister’s independent adviser on ministerial interests could in future decide to launch inquiries into the conduct of ministers.
It will also ask if the Prime Minister, as happens at present, or another body should decide disciplinary action for breaches of the ministerial code.
Committee chairman Lord Evans, a former head of MI5, said: “There is an argument that perhaps the decision to investigate allegations under the ministerial code might be done independently.”
Highlighting the role of the independent adviser, he added: “Might it be sensible for them to be able to start their own investigation and then to advise the Prime Minister on the basis of the facts discovered?”
A new inquiry would also consider how best to respond to breaches of the ministerial code and who should decide on disciplinary action, he told the Commons public administration select committee.
He also raised questions over whether the standards governing public life needed to be modernised.
Boris Johnson was hit with a backlash after refusing to sack “bully” Home Secretary Ms Patel. She apologised for her “behaviour” after being accused of bullying civil servants.
Sir Alex Allan, the Prime Minister’s independent adviser on ministerial standards, quit after he was overruled by Mr Johnson after he had found Ms Patel had breached the code.
