Rishi Sunak appoints ethics counselor but is accused of preserving 'rotten regime'

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Rishi Sunak has appointed a new ethics counselor after a six-month vacancy, but was condemned for clinging to personal power to veto any investigation on ministers.

England's historic president Sir Laurie Magnus has been announced as the successor to Lord Geidt - who stepped down after a rocky tenure under Boris Johnson - as adviser to the interests of ministers.

But the Prime Minister has ignored calls from the Committee on Standards in Public Life and others to give his top adviser the power to launch their own inquiry without his permission.< /p>

Labour accused Mr Sunak of choosing to 'preserve the rotten ethics regime' that led to the resignations of Lord Geidt and his predecessor Sir Alex Allan.

The Liberal Democrats said the new adviser was "toothless", and the respected think tank of the Institute for Government said it was "unwise" for Sir Laurie to take on the role without an enhanced mandate.

Welcoming the new role is seen as "an honour" and a "significant responsibility" , said Sir Laurie. A first priority will be to carefully review Ministers' Declaration of Interests.

"I will strive to discharge the important responsibilities of the role with fairness and integrity, in a which inspires the confidence of ministers, parliament and the public,” the adviser wrote to Mr Sunak.

In a letter to Sir Laurie, Mr Sunak stressed that he believed he s was in a "critically important role", having been pressured to appoint someone to a vacant position since June.

"I have sought to identify potential candidates who can demonstrate the essential qualities of integrity and independence, relevant expertise and experience, and an ability to gain the confidence of ministers,” reads the letter.

Sir Laurie, who has a background in financial services and is a former vice-chairman of the National Trust, is serving as an adviser for a non-renewable five-year term.

Labour delegate a Deputy Angela Rayner said, "After months of dithering and delays, Rishi Sunak has chosen to preserve the rotten ethics regime he inherited from his predecessors and which saw the previous two ethics watchdogs leave.

"By ignoring the Committee on Standards in Public Life and refusing to grant genuine independence to its ethics adviser, this weak Prime Minister is failing to deliver on his promises...