The Prime Minister’s ethics adviser can launch an investigation into ministerial misconduct without getting Sir Keir Starmer’s consent, new Government documents have confirmed.

The Ministerial Code update published on Wednesday removed the Prime Minister’s written power to veto investigations being considered by independent adviser Sir Laurie Magnus.

The new version of the law removed text stating that the Prime Minister would “normally give consent” to investigations, but retained the right to “express concerns” about an investigation “so that the Independent Counsel does not proceed” if it was “in the public interest”. reasons for doing this”.

The law now states that “if the Independent Adviser believes that an alleged violation of the Act requires further investigation and the matter has not yet been referred to them, he or she may initiate an investigation after notifying the Prime Minister.”

“Ministers are expected to provide the Independent Counsel with all information reasonably necessary to enable them to carry out their duties.”

In its election manifesto, Labor promised to give independent advice “the power to launch investigations into abuses and give them access to the evidence they need”.

The regulation also includes recommendations such as tightening the previous rules for ministers who can accept hospitality and mentioning ministers’ families.

The law states that ministers must not accept gifts or entertainment that “might jeopardize their judgment or expose them to any liability to persons or organizations that may seek to improperly influence their work in government.”

The same principle applies to family members.

Previously the law stated that “ministers should not accept any gift or entertainment that would, or could reasonably appear to, compromise their judgment or place them under an improper obligation.”

Ministers are also being told they must be “mindful” of “the public’s confidence in Government standards” when deciding whether to accept gifts or entertainment.

Earlier in the autumn, senior politicians, including Sir Keir Starmer, were locked in a row over free tickets to Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour and the Government’s role in related security arrangements.

It turned out that the Prime Minister and his family met the pop star and his mother at one of the concerts in London in the summer.

This comes after it was reported that London Mayor Sadiq Khan and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper held talks about security for the concerts, after which Swift was given a blue-light escort, a type of protection usually reserved for royalty and politicians.

In Sir Keir’s foreword to the code, it was stated that the rules “set out the higher standards that the British public expect and ministers must now comply with”.

“British people have lost faith that he can change their lives for the better.

“For too long they have looked at the behavior of politicians in Westminster and failed to see the high standards of public service that they expected or deserved,” the Prime Minister added.

Sir Laurie has been an independent adviser since December 2022, when he was appointed by then prime minister Rishi Sunak.