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Owen Paterson vote: Tories are wallowing in sleaze, says Sir Keir Starmer Owen Paterson: Government faces backlash over new conduct rules plan
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Tellers announce the votes to change the rules which are backed by a majority of MPs, while "shame" is shouted from the benchesTellers 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. The government is facing a furious backlash after it voted to change rules on the way MPs' conduct is policed - blocking the suspension of one of its own former ministers.
Owen Paterson was found to have broken lobbying rules, but said he was not given the chance to clear his name.Owen Paterson was found to have broken lobbying rules, but said he was not given the chance to clear his name.
His Tory allies called for a shake-up of the standards watchdog and won the vote thanks to government backing.
But Labour said the government was "wallowing in sleaze".
And all opposition parties have refused to take part in any new standards system the government sets up.
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. And the chair of the Commons Standards Committee, Labour's Chris Bryant, compared the action to what would happen in Russia.
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 Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng defended the government and his party, saying they were "completely focused on trying to restore a degree of integrity and probity in public life".
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.
What is lobbying? A brief guideWhat is lobbying? A brief guide
Anger as Tory MP Owen Paterson avoids suspensionAnger 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". Tories may regret Owen Paterson rule change move
"That the Tories are yet again wallowing in sleaze comes as no surprise," he said. The committee - made up of MPs from all sides and lay members - had recommended that Mr Paterson be banned for 30 sitting days after being found to have misused his position as an MP to benefit two firms he worked for.
Sir Keir - who has been isolating after a positive Covid test - also criticised Prime Minister Boris Johnson, saying "the rot starts at the top". A suspension of this length could have seen the Tory MP then face a recall petition, which could lead to a by-election for his seat.
However, Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng defended the government's actions. The committee's recommendations have to be signed off by MPs in the Commons, but they are usually accepted without much discussion.
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, to cries of "shame" from the opposition benches.
'The rot starts at the top'
Sir Keir said the move by the Conservatives move would "further undermine public faith in politics at a time when we should be trying to restore decency and honesty".
But he said it was "no surprise" the Tories were "yet again wallowing in sleaze", pointing to Prime Minister Boris Johnson and saying "the rot starts at the top".
One of his MPs, Kim Leadbeater - sister of the murdered MP Jo Cox - told BBC Breakfast the political moves on Wednesday made it "a really embarrassing day for politics generally, but... a really shameful day for the government".
She added: "You cant have a set of rules that you think don't apply to you. How are we going to engage people in politics if they just think there are people in Parliament who think they are better than everyone else, when we are not."
But Business Secretary Mr 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 himOwen 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 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.
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 18 times 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. But Mr Paterson denied the findings, claiming he had been pronounced guilty "without being spoken to" and that "no proper investigation was undertaken".
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. He also claimed the investigation had been "a major contributory factor" in the death of his wife, Rose, who took her own life last year.
MPs voted 250 to 232 to approve the amendment. Every MP who backed Wednesday's move can expect to have it used against them on political leaflets or Facebook campaigns.
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.
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.
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.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 LauraRead 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. Among the Conservatives who did not back the plan was Sir Peter Bottomley, the longest serving MP in the House of Commons, who told MPs: "We chose the system we are now using. If we want to consider changing it, we do it in a proper way instead of considering it in the way we are now."
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. Tory Angela Richardson was sacked as a ministerial aide following her decision to abstain on the crucial vote.
He said the investigation had been "a major contributory factor" in the death of his wife, Rose, who took her own life last year. But after the vote not to uphold the recommendation, Ms Stone's office confirmed she would not be resigning as standards commissioner.
Mr Paterson claimed he had been pronounced guilty "without being spoken to" and that "no proper investigation was undertaken". 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 acknowledged the MPs supporting him had "taken a political hit", but added: "At last now be able to create a proper system, based on the rules of natural justice."