Boris Johnson changes ministerial code so rule-breakers can avoid sack

Boris Johnson has weakened the rules on standards in government so that ministers found guilty of breaching the ministerial code will no longer be expected to resign.

The prime minister, who is himself facing an investigation into whether he misled parliament, has issued an updated version of the code and removed sections warning ministers not to bully staff or have conflicts of interest.

The updated code says it would be “disproportionate” to require ministers who break the rules to resign and lays out an alternative range of punishments such as a temporary salary reduction or a public apology.

The code says: “Where the prime minister determines that a breach of the expected standards has occurred, he may ask the Independent Adviser for confidential advice