Labour seeks to ensure Johnson quickly appoints new ethics adviser

Opposition motion would mean potentially hostile candidate could get job if role is not filled within two months

Labour will pile pressure on Boris Johnson to speedily replace his ethics adviser by launching an attempt to ensure the role is effectively filled within two months - or a potentially more hostile candidate is installed.

The party came up with the backstop" plan to ensure Johnson does not evade scrutiny after Downing Street refused to commit to replacing Christopher Geidt, who stepped down last week over alleged breaches of the ministerial code by the prime minister.