BRITAIN’S democracy “cannot hinge on a gentleman’s agreement,” Labour insisted yesterday as the party proposed a rewrite of the rules that govern public life.

Deputy leader Angela Rayner accused Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government of corruption as she set out proposals to overhaul the standards system that applies to MPs and ministers.

Delivering a speech at the Institute for Government think tank, Ms Rayner said: “The next Labour government will act to stamp out the corruption that Boris Johnson and his government have polluted our democracy with.”

The deputy leader said that Labour would introduce an independent watchdog with the ability to launch investigations and demand the sacking of ministers.

She said that a Labour government would also ban ministers from lobbying, consultancy or any paid work relating to their old roles for at least five years.

“The changes that I have set out today will overhaul the broken system that has failed to stop the spread of corruption under this Prime Minister,” she said.

“Never again will a prime minister and his ministers be able to break the rules with impunity because the rules are too weak. They aren’t enforced, and it is the Prime Minister himself in charge of them.”

She continued: “The current regime is no longer working precisely because we have a Prime Minister who is shameless in breaking the rules, and won’t enforce consequences on others who break them. 

“Corruption – that is the word – is happening in plain sight, and it is rife right through this Conservative government.

“That is why we must now urgently rebuild public trust in politics and government.”