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RISHI SUNAK’S decision to reappoint Suella Braverman just days after her resignation over security breaches sets a “dangerous precedent,” a damning report by MPs has warned.
The Tory-led public administration and constitutional affairs committee released its latest report on government ethics today, singling out the PM for particular criticism over the decision.
The Home Secretary was forced to resign after sending official documents via her private email to a Tory backbencher and accidentally copying in an aid.
But soon after Mr Sunak took over the premiership, he reappointed her, sparking widespread anger and concerns that Ms Braverman’s return could pose a risk to national security.
MPs said the leaking of restricted material would be worthy of “significant sanction” under the new rules introduced by former PM Boris Johnson in May this year — including resignation and long periods of time out of office.
It also said Ms Braverman’s return sets a “dangerous precedent” for how breaches of the code are dealt with.
“A subsequent change in prime minister should not wipe the slate clean and allow for a rehabilitation and a return to ministerial office in a shorter timeframe,” the report adds.
Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner accused Mr Sunak of attempting to “preserve the rotten ethics regime” of the former government.
“The buck stops with the PM. But despite the promises of integrity Rishi Sunak has no plan to restore standards after years of sleaze and scandal,” she tweeted.
Committee chair Tory MP William Wragg said: “Our inquiry has found that although we have a sophisticated landscape of ethics watchdogs in the UK to safeguard standards in public life, they lack the power to enforce the rules.”
He called on Mr Sunak to “show leadership” by giving legal status to all ethics watchdogs in order to provide a “better deterrent” for those “tempted to act improperly.”
The committee also expressed concern at Mr Sunak’s refusal to launch an inquiry, led by the new ethics adviser, into the circumstances surrounding Ms Braverman’s resignation.
The government should not have the power to determine what the adviser should investigate, the MPs said.
The role of ethics adviser to Downing Street remains vacant despite Mr Sunak’s pledge to fill the role when he came into office. Two have quit in the past two years