BORIS JOHNSON’S plan to control the independent election watchdog investigating him for breaking the law constitutes the latest “attack on our democracy,” Labour warned today.

Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner accused the Prime Minister of trying to “take down the independent bodies that scrutinise him and uncover uncomfortable truths.”

The party warned that the new Elections Bill would give ministers control over the the Electoral Commission when it is set to publish the findings of its investigation into whether any laws were broken or criminal offences occurred in relation to the financing of refurbishment work on the PM’s Downing Street flat.

Labour said that the Bill, which is currently completing its final passage through Parliament, will substantially weaken the commission’s independence, with Conservatives gaining the power to set its agenda and influence its operations.

Ms Rayner said: “Boris Johnson doesn’t like being held to account, so he just remakes the rules and attacks anyone who upholds the law and enforces the rules.

“His reaction to being investigated by the Electoral Commission is the same as his reaction to twice being found guilty of breaking parliamentary rules – instead of changing his behaviour, he attacks those who investigate him.

“Every time Boris Johnson attacks the independent institutions that protect us from corruption and uphold the integrity of public office, he attacks our democracy, corrodes public trust and diminishes our country’s standing around the world.

“Conservative MPs who regret their vote last week when they voted to support corruption and undermine our democracy have an opportunity to learn their lesson and stand up for the integrity of our democracy and the principle of independent scrutiny by voting down this Elections Bill.”