LONDON: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s top ethics adviser said he had quit after the government forced him into an “impossible and odious” position, according to a letter released on Thursday.

       Christopher Geidt is the second official to quit the role in two years in protest against Johnson’s actions. His resignation on Wednes-day came after the prime minister was enmeshed in the “Partygate” scandal, which saw him receive a police fine.

       Lord Geidt had stayed on despite expressing unease over the lockdown-breaching parties in Downing Street. Johnson’s office said it was “surprised” at his decision to step down now.

       In his resignation letter to Johnson — quickly dubbed “Geidtgate” — the former official said the final straw came when he was asked to advise on “a deliberate and purposeful breach of the mini-sterial code” by the government on an unspecified issue.

       “This request has placed me in an impossible and odious position,” he wrote. “I can have no part in this,” added Geidt, who had previously cleared Johnson over another scandal related to who paid for a lavish redecoration of his Downing Street flat.

       Ministers refused to be drawn on the specifics of the row but trade experts said it related to a ruling by other officials that the government could no longer justify its tariffs on Chinese steel.

       In his letter of response, Johnson said he had sought Geidt’s “advice on the nati-onal interest in protecting a crucial industry” through retaliatory trade tariffs.

       Published in Dawn,June 17th, 2022