Ministerial aide sacked after warning against leaking was leaked

Chief whip used ‘canary trap’ sting in bid to find source of information passed to media

Andrew Lewer says, ‘In nearly 20 years of elected office I have never leaked to the press’ (Chris McAndrew / UK Parliament)

A ministerial aide has been sacked after Boris Johnson’s chief whip conducted a sting designed to catch out leakers.

Andrew Lewer was sacked from his junior government role as parliamentary private secretary in the Home Office after a letter calling for an end of leaks to the press was itself leaked to the Guido Fawkes website of Westminster scandal and gossip.

It is understood that chief whip Mark Spencer used slightly different wording in each copy of the letter, in order to allow officials to identify the source of any information which found its way into the media.

Lewer, PPS to the policing minister Kit Malthouse, is believed to have denied he had leaked the letter when confronted by Conservative whips.

And the Northampton South MP told the Politico website: “In nearly 20 years of elected office I have never leaked to the press.”

Mr Spencer’s letter, addressed sent to all PPSs and vice-chairs of the Conservative Party, was sent out on 14 December.

Three days later, it appeared on the Guido Fawkes website under the headline: “Leaked: Chief Whip writes to PPSs warning them not to leak.”

As well as quoting from the warning, the website published a picture of the letter itself, making it clear which version had been passed on.

The letter said that there had been “a lack of clarity” over what was expected from PPSs and vice-chairs in relation to their responsibilities under the ministerial code.

It pointed out that prime minister Boris Johnson’s foreword to the code “strictly prohibits ‘leaking’ or any other breaches of trust”.

And it warned: “I would like to take this opportunity to remind you of the severe consequences that you will face, should you choose to breach the code.”

Any violation of the code will lead to removal from their position “with immediate effect” and no mitigating arguments will be accepted, it warned.

Mr Johnson’s former adviser Dominic Cummings had vowed to wage war on leakers during his year in No 10, but was never able to stem the flow of awkward information to the media.

Most embarrassingly, news of the impending second lockdown in England was leaked shortly after it was agreed at a top-level meeting, forcing the PM to bring his announcement forward. A Cabinet Office inquiry continues into the “chatty rat” responsible.

No 10 briefed last month that it was ready to use a “canary trap” strategy to find the source of leaks by disseminating information in a format that would identify those passing it on.

At the time, the tactic drew mockery that it would not work if potential leakers were told it would happen.

Mr Lewer did not immediately respond to a request from The Independent for comment.