Liz Truss says she doesn't need an ethics counselor because she knows 'the difference between right and wrong'

Liz Truss has signaled that she will not be naming d ethics adviser if she replaces Boris Johnson, suggesting it wasn't necessary as she knew 'the difference between right and wrong'.

The Tory leadership favorite refused repeatedly to pledge to replace Lord Geidt, who stepped down as Mr Johnson's independent representative. ethics adviser in June, claiming he had been forced into an 'odious' post by the Prime Minister.

"You can't outsource ethics to an adviser - we need 'ethics in government,' he said at an election campaign event in Birmingham on Tuesday night.

"I think one of the problems we have in this country is that we have many independent advisers and bodies and ru and regulations,” Ms. Truss said. “For me, it’s about understanding the difference between right and wrong – I’m someone who has always acted with integrity.”

Asked if she would have an adviser to hold her to account, she said, "If a leader says they can't tell the difference between right and wrong and they have to hand it over to an ethics counsellor, I think that's a fundamental problem.

Ms Truss said she would uphold the standards by appointing 'a strong chief whip' and bringing them back to Downing Street 'so that they are at the heart of government and ensuring that it is there is zero tolerance for misconduct".

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His rival Rishi Sunak, who has said he will appoint a replacement is lying for ...