LONDON, April 24 (Reuters) - Britain's opposition Labour
Party on Saturday called for an independent commission on ethics
and standards in government after Prime Minister Boris Johnson's
former top adviser criticised the UK leader's integrity.
On Friday Dominic Cummings, who left Johnson's staff
suddenly late last year having previously been his most
influential adviser over Brexit and the 2019 election campaign,
denied reports he leaked Johnson's private communications over
the sourcing of COVID-19 ventilators.
Cummings also said he was not responsible for leaks over the
cost of refurbishing Johnson's residence and that the prime
minister and his office had fallen below acceptable standards of
competence and integrity.
Johnson's office in response on Friday said the government
had followed the rules over the refurbishment. The prime
minister had never interfered in a government leak inquiry, his
office added.
"We need some kind of independent commission into ethics and
standards in government, we can't let the prime minister mark
his own homework on this," Steve Reed, Labour's spokesman on
communities and local government, told BBC radio.
"This was the closest ally the prime minister's got and he's
telling us the prime minister's behaviour was unethical, foolish
and possibly illegal," he said.
(Reporting by James Davey; Editing by Toby Chopra)