Today’s news summary – Paper Talk
Thursday’s papers feature a variety of stories, one popular one across the front pages is the resignation of Lord Geidt – Boris Johnson’s ethics adviser. His resignation comes just a day after he said there was a “legitimate question” about whether Boris Johnson broke ministerial rules over Partygate.
Insiders told the Financial Times that Lord Geidt’s resignation announcement came as a “total surprise.” Whilst the Times says the PM is going to struggle to find a replacement – it’ll be his third ethics adviser if just over two and a half years. The paper says No 10 was “blindsided” by his statement but Lord Geidt had been debating his future following ‘frustration’ over partygate.
“PM under pressure again as second ethics advisers quits” – that’s the Guardian’s headline as the paper recalls the resignation of Lord Geidt’s predecessor, Alex Allan, who quit after the PM ignored his finding that Priti Patel had bullied civil servants. Lord Geidt was “sick of being lied to” according to sources who spoke to the paper.
The Telegraph’s take on the news is a quote from senior Tory MP William Wragg. “For the PM to lose one adviser on ministers’ interests may be regarded as misfortune. To lose two looks like carelessness.” The paper says Lord Geidt had considered resigning over the Downing Street flat row after it emerged relevant text messages from the PM had not been handed to him.
“The only way is ethics” Is the Metro’s pun headline. A source tells the paper the adviser’s decision to quit is a “mystery” to the prime minister.
