This article is from the source 'bbc' 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.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-59158469
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Owen Paterson vote: Tories are wallowing in sleaze, says Sir Keir Starmer | Owen Paterson vote: Tories are wallowing in sleaze, says Sir Keir Starmer |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| This video can not be played | This video can not be played |
| To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. | To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. |
| Tellers announce the votes to change the rules which are backed by a majority of MPs, while "shame" is shouted from the benches | Tellers announce the votes to change the rules which are backed by a majority of MPs, while "shame" is shouted from the benches |
| Labour has accused the Conservatives of "wallowing in sleaze", after the government backed a vote to change the system for disciplining MPs - blocking the suspension of a former minister. | Labour has accused the Conservatives of "wallowing in sleaze", after the government backed a vote to change the system for disciplining MPs - blocking the suspension of a former minister. |
| Owen Paterson was found to have broken lobbying rules, but said he was not given the chance to clear his name. | |
| Writing in the Guardian, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said Tory MPs had voted "to let off one of their own". | Writing in the Guardian, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said Tory MPs had voted "to let off one of their own". |
| The business secretary said changes were needed to make the system open. | The business secretary said changes were needed to make the system open. |
| The cross-party Standards Committee had recommended that Mr Paterson be banned for 30 days after being found to have misused his position as an MP to benefit two firms he worked for. | The cross-party Standards Committee had recommended that Mr Paterson be banned for 30 days after being found to have misused his position as an MP to benefit two firms he worked for. |
| But on Wednesday, the government whipped MPs to back an amendment to halt the case and set up a new structure to overhaul the standards system. | But on Wednesday, the government whipped MPs to back an amendment to halt the case and set up a new structure to overhaul the standards system. |
| Labour, the SNP and Lib Dems voted against the plans, along with 13 Conservative MPs, while dozens of Tories abstained. But it was carried by 18 votes after a heated Commons debate. | Labour, the SNP and Lib Dems voted against the plans, along with 13 Conservative MPs, while dozens of Tories abstained. But it was carried by 18 votes after a heated Commons debate. |
| What is lobbying? A brief guide | What is lobbying? A brief guide |
| Anger as Tory MP Owen Paterson avoids suspension | Anger as Tory MP Owen Paterson avoids suspension |
| In his article, Sir Keir said the Conservative Party's move would "further undermine public faith in politics at a time when we should be trying to restore decency and honesty". | |
| "That the Tories are yet again wallowing in sleaze comes as no surprise," he said. | "That the Tories are yet again wallowing in sleaze comes as no surprise," he said. |
| Sir Keir - who has been isolating after a positive Covid test - also criticised Prime Minister Boris Johnson, saying "the rot starts at the top". | |
| However, Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng defended the government's actions. | However, Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng defended the government's actions. |
| "The point of the vote [on Wednesday] wasn't to say whether Owen was in the right or in the wrong. What the vote was doing was to bring some due process to where we are," Mr Kwarteng told ITV's Peston programme. | "The point of the vote [on Wednesday] wasn't to say whether Owen was in the right or in the wrong. What the vote was doing was to bring some due process to where we are," Mr Kwarteng told ITV's Peston programme. |
| "We have been discussing this for a while... What we want to do is make an open process where in any workplace in the land you would have a right of appeal." | "We have been discussing this for a while... What we want to do is make an open process where in any workplace in the land you would have a right of appeal." |
| Owen Paterson watched on in the Commons as MPs debated whether to suspend him | Owen Paterson watched on in the Commons as MPs debated whether to suspend him |
| In a statement after the vote, Mr Paterson said: "After two years of hell, I now have the opportunity to clear my name." | In a statement after the vote, Mr Paterson said: "After two years of hell, I now have the opportunity to clear my name." |
| In an interview with the BBC, he thanked the MPs who voted for the overhaul, acknowledging they had "taken a political hit". | In an interview with the BBC, he thanked the MPs who voted for the overhaul, acknowledging they had "taken a political hit". |
| "But we will at last now be able to create a proper system, based on the rules of natural justice," he added. | "But we will at last now be able to create a proper system, based on the rules of natural justice," he added. |
| The committee's recommendation that Mr Paterson be suspended from the Commons followed a damning report into his conduct by the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Kathryn Stone. | The committee's recommendation that Mr Paterson be suspended from the Commons followed a damning report into his conduct by the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Kathryn Stone. |
| The report said the former Northern Ireland secretary had breached Commons rules by lobbying government bodies for Randox and Lynn's Country Foods, which employed him as a paid consultant for more than £100,000 a year. | The report said the former Northern Ireland secretary had breached Commons rules by lobbying government bodies for Randox and Lynn's Country Foods, which employed him as a paid consultant for more than £100,000 a year. |
| It described the MP's actions as "an egregious case of paid advocacy". | It described the MP's actions as "an egregious case of paid advocacy". |
| The government did not order its MPs to uphold the proposed suspension, which could have led to Mr Paterson facing a by-election in his North Shropshire constituency. | The government did not order its MPs to uphold the proposed suspension, which could have led to Mr Paterson facing a by-election in his North Shropshire constituency. |
| Instead, they were told to back the amendment drawn up by former Conservative cabinet minister Andrea Leadsom to pause his suspension and set up a new Tory-majority committee to look at how investigations are carried out. | Instead, they were told to back the amendment drawn up by former Conservative cabinet minister Andrea Leadsom to pause his suspension and set up a new Tory-majority committee to look at how investigations are carried out. |
| MPs voted 250 to 232 to approve the amendment. | |
| Among the Conservatives who did not back the plan was Sir Peter Bottomley, the longest serving MP in the House of Commons. | |
| He said: "We chose the system we are now using," he said. "If we want to consider changing it, we do it in a proper way instead of considering it in the way we are now." | |
| Tory Angela Richardson was sacked as a ministerial aide following her decision to abstain on the crucial vote. | |
| The Guildford MP, who had been a parliamentary private secretary to cabinet minister Michael Gove, said when she abstained she was "aware that my job was at risk, but it was a matter of principle for me". | |
| Labour has said it will not be taking part in the proposed new committee, while the SNP and Lib Dems also said they would boycott the overhaul. | Labour has said it will not be taking part in the proposed new committee, while the SNP and Lib Dems also said they would boycott the overhaul. |
| After the vote not to uphold the recommendation, Ms Stone's office confirmed she would not be resigning as standards commissioner. | After the vote not to uphold the recommendation, Ms Stone's office confirmed she would not be resigning as standards commissioner. |
| Every MP who backed yesterday's move can expect to have it used against them on political leaflets or Facebook campaigns. | Every MP who backed yesterday's move can expect to have it used against them on political leaflets or Facebook campaigns. |
| There could be serious consequences in Parliament if the opposition parties decide to use this moment to withdraw co-operation on other committees or ways of working. | |
| Some ministers already fear this is an episode that Downing Street may come to regret. | Some ministers already fear this is an episode that Downing Street may come to regret. |
| Owen Paterson is adamant that he did nothing wrong, and has been denied natural justice. | Owen Paterson is adamant that he did nothing wrong, and has been denied natural justice. |
| But with this Tory response, voters may well come to wonder, what's fair about this? | But with this Tory response, voters may well come to wonder, what's fair about this? |
| Read more from Laura | Read more from Laura |
| The Commons standards committee found Mr Paterson had used his parliamentary office on 16 occasions for meetings relating to his outside business interests and sent two letters relating to business interests on House of Commons-headed notepaper. | |
| However, Mr Paterson denied any wrongdoing, and argued his approaches had been within the rules because he was seeking to alert ministers to defects in safety regulations. | However, Mr Paterson denied any wrongdoing, and argued his approaches had been within the rules because he was seeking to alert ministers to defects in safety regulations. |
| He said the investigation had been "a major contributory factor" in the death of his wife, Rose, who took her own life last year. | He said the investigation had been "a major contributory factor" in the death of his wife, Rose, who took her own life last year. |
| Mr Paterson claimed he had been pronounced guilty "without being spoken to" and that "no proper investigation was undertaken". | Mr Paterson claimed he had been pronounced guilty "without being spoken to" and that "no proper investigation was undertaken". |