Former ministers may not need anti-corruption watchdog approval to write books and columns

Boris Johnson warned Akoba just 30 minutes before joining the Daily Mail as a columnist

Former ministers may have the right to write books and columns without approval, suggested Rishi Sunak's deputy.

Boris Johnson, the former prime minister, was rebuked by the anti-corruption watchdog in June after he gave them just 30 minutes' notice of his new role as Columnist for the Daily Mail.

The Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Akoba), which was tasked with setting conditions for former ministers to take up new positions, later wrote to ministers calling for urgent reform of the rules governing post-ministerial work, including sanctions for breaches.

< p> In a letter to Akobe published on Thursday, Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden said it would be «disproportionate» to take any further action against Johnson beyond admitting wrongdoing.

He said the cabinet agreed with the watchdog's assessment that «the risk associated with media appointments is limited» and that they are «usually subject to conditions that former ministers are already required to comply with» after they leave senior posts.

Mr Dowden said the UK Government was “committed” to exempting books, journalism and media speech from strict business appointments rules in the future.

In his letter to Akoba on Thursday, Mr Dowden said reforms would likely include a softer approach to media relations to support free speech.

He continued: “In As part of these reforms, the government believes that media speech, books or journalism should, over time, be formally exempted from business assignment rules (while maintaining a duty of confidentiality).

“It also recognizes the importance of free speech rights within the law. Thus, this «targeted» approach helps to evaluate the appropriate steps on this particular issue.»