This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2021/nov/03/uk-politics-live-labour-criticises-pm-as-tories-urged-to-vote-down-paterson-lobbying-inquiry-findings

The article has changed 16 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 6 Version 7
UK politics live: Rayner accuses Tories of ‘wallowing in sleaze’ after Speaker allows vote on move to stop Paterson suspension UK politics live: Rayner accuses Tories of ‘wallowing in sleaze’ after Speaker allows vote on move to stop Paterson suspension
(31 minutes later)
Latest updates: crunch vote – which will see Tory MPs told to shelve a report from the cross-party standards committee – will go ahead after 3pmLatest updates: crunch vote – which will see Tory MPs told to shelve a report from the cross-party standards committee – will go ahead after 3pm
The UK’s ability to cope with new Brexit checks for the export of food to the Europe has been hit by a dramatic fall in the number of EU vets coming to the UK, MPs have heard. Rees-Mogg says it is the government’s view that MPs should get the same or similar rights to people accused of misconduct in other professions. That includes the right to examine witnesses, he says.
Rees-Mogg says the rules allow the parliamentary commissioner for standards to set up a panel to investigate in serious cases. But this did not happen in this case, he says.
Michael Fabricant (Con) says the commissioner refused to hear evidence from 17 witnesses offered up by Owen Paterson.
Chris Bryant, the Labour chair of the committee, says these witnesses gave evidence in writing. That is a normal procedure, he says. (See 10.57am.)
Fabricant says they should have given evidence in person, so they could be cross-examined.
Dame Margaret Hodge (Lab) says it would be “terrible for our democracy” if the standards committee report were to be overturned.
Florence Eshalomi (Lab) says paid advocacy has been banned since 1695. Why is the government bending the rules?
Rees-Mogg says it isn’t. He says Owen Paterson was using a whistleblowing exemption.
Richard Burgon (Lab) says this looks dodgy because it is. This is the most corrupt government in modern times, he says.
Rees-Mogg says Burgon is the acme of partisanship.
Steve Baker (Con) says Paterson is not being let off. The review of his case could lead to an even worse outcome for him, he says.
Rees-Mogg says that is right.
Jess Phillips (Lab) asks Rees-Mogg if he would be saying all this if a Labour MP were involved.
Rees-Mogg claims he would be doing that.
Jacob Rees-Mogg, the leader of the Commons, is opening the debate.
He says he is not here to defend Owen Paterson. He says his concern is the fairness of the system. He says Paterson did not get a right of appeal.
Kevin Hollinrake (Con) suggests that the committee itself functions as an appeal body, because it reviews the findings of the parliamentary commissioner for standards.
Rees-Mogg says the committee cannot be an appeal body, because it is the committee’s report that MPs are considering.
He says he would like to think that the house as a whole, when it debates the committee’s report, could serve as providing an appeal process. But he says that cannot happen because it is too partisan.
That triggers loud laughter from opposition MPs, who believe that it is the government that is being partisan.
Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the Speaker, is taking the chair for the debate.
He says Jacob Rees-Mogg, the leader of the Commons, will open the debate, and Chris Bryant, the chair of the standards committee, will get to respond at the end.
He confirms that he has selected Andrea Leadsom’s amendment.
And he tells MPs that, while they can criticise the disciplinary process, they should not attack Commons officials who are not able to defend themselves.
This is a reference to Kathryn Stone, the parliamentary commissioner for standards. In its report the standards committee criticised Owen Paterson for making what it described as serious and unsubstantiated allegations against her. The committee said:
Britain is showing a “constructive” spirit in talks with France to resolve a row over post-Brexit fishing licences, the French government has said, in a further sign the dispute may be entering calmer waters. My colleagues Jennifer Rankin and Lisa O’Carroll have the story here.
Owen Paterson has arrived in the Commons for the debate on his future, my colleague John Crace reports.
Boris Johnson has finished his statement to MPs about the G20 and Cop26. Robert Halfon is now proposing a 10-minute rule bill, and the debate on the Owen Paterson report will start when he has finished (in about five minutes).
David Warburton, the Conservative MP and who chairs the all-party parliamentary group (APPG) on Music, has written to Boris Johnson demanding “urgent action” over the crisis facing musicians and crew touring the EU.
The APPG on Music has also revealed plans to hold a cross-party inquiry into the costly barriers and delays facing musicians, particularly emerging artists.
As part of its investigation, the MPs are calling for evidence on the impact the trade and cooperation agreement (TCA) – the UK/EU trade deal signed following the UK’s departure from the EU – has had on UK music workers and companies looking to tour and work short-term in EU member states.It comes after Sir Elton John warned in June that the UK music industry risked losing a “generation of talent” and branded the situation a “looming catastrophe” for artists.Commenting on the letter, Warburton said:
The UK’s ability to cope with new Brexit checks for the export of food to Europe has been hit by a dramatic fall in the number of EU vets coming to the UK, MPs have heard.
Demand for vets, now required to sign off export health certificates, has rocketed since Brexit.Demand for vets, now required to sign off export health certificates, has rocketed since Brexit.
But James Russell, senior vice president of the British Veterinary Association, told the international trade committee that since Brexit the numbers of EU vets registering in the first eight months of the year had fallen to 250 from 757 in the equivalent period in 2019. The drop was significant given that EU vets represented 50% of the register before Brexit. But James Russell, senior vice president of the British Veterinary Association, told the international trade committee that since Brexit the number of EU vets registering in the first eight months of the year had fallen to 250 from 757 in the equivalent period in 2019. The drop was significant given that EU vets represented 50% of the register before Brexit.
“We’re less than a third of the vets coming into the country,” he said.“We’re less than a third of the vets coming into the country,” he said.
At the post-PMQs lobby briefing No 10 claimed that its backing for the Andrea Leadsom amendment is not about letting Owen Paterson off the hook, the Mirror’s Pippa Crerar reports.At the post-PMQs lobby briefing No 10 claimed that its backing for the Andrea Leadsom amendment is not about letting Owen Paterson off the hook, the Mirror’s Pippa Crerar reports.
No 10 also said this was not a case of MPs marking their own homework, the Mail’s Jason Groves reports.No 10 also said this was not a case of MPs marking their own homework, the Mail’s Jason Groves reports.
The Public Relations and Communications Association, which represents the PR industry, has said in a statement the Owen Paterson affair shows the need for tougher lobbying legislation. “This dispute stems from a lack of effective lobbying legislation,” it said. “The row over Owen Paterson’s activity offers unequivocal proof that our lobbying laws need to be overhauled.”The Public Relations and Communications Association, which represents the PR industry, has said in a statement the Owen Paterson affair shows the need for tougher lobbying legislation. “This dispute stems from a lack of effective lobbying legislation,” it said. “The row over Owen Paterson’s activity offers unequivocal proof that our lobbying laws need to be overhauled.”
Sir Peter Bottomley, the Conservative MP and father of the Commons, told the World at One that he would not be voting for the Leadsom amendment, Sky’s Tamara Cohen reports.Sir Peter Bottomley, the Conservative MP and father of the Commons, told the World at One that he would not be voting for the Leadsom amendment, Sky’s Tamara Cohen reports.
Here are two of the leading newspaper political columnists on the Owen Paterson debate.Here are two of the leading newspaper political columnists on the Owen Paterson debate.
From the FT’s Robert ShrimsleyFrom the FT’s Robert Shrimsley
From my colleague Rafael BehrFrom my colleague Rafael Behr
You can read the Leadsom amendment in full here.You can read the Leadsom amendment in full here.
Boris Johnson accused Labour of “playing politics” with the Owen Paterson case during PMQs. He was responding to Angela Rayner, the deputy Labour leader, who said the Tories are now “wallowing in sleaze”.Boris Johnson accused Labour of “playing politics” with the Owen Paterson case during PMQs. He was responding to Angela Rayner, the deputy Labour leader, who said the Tories are now “wallowing in sleaze”.
Rayner asked about the Paterson case in her opening question, and Johnson started off by saying “paid lobbying, paid advocacy in this house is wrong”. But this case was about the fairness of the inquiry, he claimed.Rayner asked about the Paterson case in her opening question, and Johnson started off by saying “paid lobbying, paid advocacy in this house is wrong”. But this case was about the fairness of the inquiry, he claimed.
Rayner claimed that in no other profession would someone found guilty of misconduct be let off just because their friends were supporting them. She said:Rayner claimed that in no other profession would someone found guilty of misconduct be let off just because their friends were supporting them. She said:
She also said: “While [the Conservatives] are wallowing in sleaze, the rest of the country faces higher bills, rising costs and damaging tax rises.”She also said: “While [the Conservatives] are wallowing in sleaze, the rest of the country faces higher bills, rising costs and damaging tax rises.”
But Johnson claimed that Paterson had been denied a right of appeal. He said:But Johnson claimed that Paterson had been denied a right of appeal. He said:
The claim that Paterson was denied natural justice was strongly denied by Labour’s Chris Bryant, chair of the standards committee, in his article for the Daily Telegraph. See 10.57am.The claim that Paterson was denied natural justice was strongly denied by Labour’s Chris Bryant, chair of the standards committee, in his article for the Daily Telegraph. See 10.57am.
Robert Barrington, professor of anti-corruption practice at the University of Sussex, has posted a thread on Twitter strongly critical of the government’s stance in the Owen Paterson case. It starts here.
From the FT’s George Parker
These are from Patrick Maguire from the Times on the 59 Tory MPs who have signed the Andrea Leadsom amendment.
And this is from Sam Bright from Byline Times on the same group of MPs.
Of course, now it is not just the 59 Tories named on the order paper (pdf) who are backing the amendment; all Conservatives have been told to vote for it.
Prospect, a union representing many workers in the public sector, has condemned the proposal to vote down the Commons standards committee report into Owen Paterson. Garry Graham, its deputy general secretary, said:
Angela Rayner is responding for Labour. She says the next week and a half will be crucial.
She says Labour wants Cop26 to be a success.
But there is some cause for concern, she says. The G20 needed to be a springboard for Cop26. But it did not achieve that, she says. She says the PM is failing to persuade world leaders that more needs to be done. She says commitments for the distant future are not enough.
She says the government should have followed the example of Wales, and ruled out new coal mines. And the government is agreeing a trade deal with Australia that excludes climate pledges.
Turning to vaccines, she says in some of the poorest countries only 3% of people have been vaccinated. The UK is lagging behind all G7 countries bar one in sharing vaccines. That is “shameful”, she says.
Boris Johnson is making a statement on the G20 summit in Rome and Cop26.
He says at Paris the world agreed to keep the increase in global temperature to 1.5C.
Now is the moment of global reckoning, he says.
If we fail, Paris will have been a failure, and every other summit too, he says.
He says if global temperatures were to rise by 2C, coral reefs would be destroyed. There would be an ever warming and acidic ocean.
He says the G20 summit provided “encouraging evidence” of that will to deal with this.
Britain was the first G20 country to commit to net zero. Now 18 of the G20 countries have done that, he says.
He says the G20, including China, agreed to stop funding international coal projects.
The G20 also agreed to levy corporation tax at 15%.
It adopted a target of vaccinating 70% of the world’s population against Covid by next year, he says.
And the G20 agreed to work together to address supply chain problems, he says.
Johnson says far more needs to be done to spare humanity from catastrophic climate change.
So the biggest summit ever hosted by the UK is now underway in Glasgow, he says. It is trying to keep the aspiration of 1.5C alive, he says.
He says for millions of people the outcome is literally a matter of life or death.
The negotiations have two weeks to run. But we can take heart from what has been achieved so far, he says. He says 90% of the world’s economies are now committed to net zero. There have been agreements on methane and deforestation. India has set a target for half its energy to come from renewable sources.
Johnson says he asked the world for action on coal, cars, cash and trees. Progress is being made on three out of four of these, he says. He says the government will press on with this until the last hour.
Ruth Edwards (Con) asks if the PM supports her campaign for new healthcare centre in Rushcliffe.
Johnson says he is sure the health secretary will do his utmost to help.
Johnson says he would oppose a “checkpoint Chigwell” proposal to charge cars coming into London.
Johnson says the government has helped people on universal credit with a “£1bn tax cut”.
He is referring to the lowering of the taper rate, which is a benefit increase not a tax cut.
Johnson says it would be massively in the interests of Iran and its people it it were to return to the international nuclear energy agreement.