UK politics live: adviser on ministerial code resigns after Boris Johnson backs Priti Patel over bullying report

We’ve seen two resignations on principle at either side of this sorry affair, and in the middle a complete absence of political leadership and moral authority from the prime minister.

I cannot believe he does not understand how civil servants will view his decision to ignore the evidence that the home secretary bullied her staff and, as such, breached the ministerial code. The only conclusion that can be reached is he simply doesn’t care.

No civil servant will now have confidence that any complaint raised about ministerial behaviour will be dealt with fairly or impartially.

As Lord Evans, the chair of the committee on standards in public life, has said, this episode raises serious questions about the effectiveness of the current arrangements for investigating and responding to breaches of the ministerial code.

It’s clear we now need an independent and transparent process where bullying and harassment allegations against ministers can be dealt with effectively, free from political interference.