Tory minister claims no ‘wider problem’ with corruption in politics ahead of debate_Original Video_m203211.mp4
The prime minister is refusing to apologise for his actions in the Owen Paterson paid lobbying scandal, which saw him attempt to save his friend from suspension, after No 10 confirmed the PM would not attend the Commons debate on standards and sleaze.
The government benches were relatively empty as the debate began – ITV’s Robert Peston counted only 46 out of 365 MPs – compared with high attendance from opposition parties.
Responding to the news that Steve Barclay, chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, would the government at the emergency debate instead of the prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer accused his political opponent of “running scared”.
The Labour leader claimed Boris Johnson did not have “the decency either to defend or apologise for his actions”, adding: “When required to lead, he has chosen to hide. His concern, as always, is self-preservation, not the national interest.”
He said the now-resigned Mr Paterson was used “as a pawn” by the prime minister in his attack on the parliamentary standards committee.
It comes after it emerged the Conservatives lost their lead in the latest opinion poll, with Mr Johnson’s “good prime minister” rating plummeting for the first time since he entered No 10. The Tories were down four points to 35 per cent while Labour remained unchanged on 36 per cent, according to the Ipsos Mori poll carried out for The Evening Standard.
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Here’s Pete Wishart’s letter to the Met asking for an investigation into Conservative peerage appointments:
Liam James8 November 2021 18:25
Met Police asked to investigate Tory House of Lords appointments
The Metropolitan Police have been asked to investigate peerage appointments to the House of Lords by the Conservative Party.
Pete Wishart, leader of the SNP in the Commons, said the government was embroiled in “cash for honours 2.0”, in reference to a New Labour-era peerage scandal.
Mr Wishart said the “price to get into the House of Lords has gone up from £1 million from New Labour to £3 million from the Conservatives”.
He added: “It now seems that nearly all the past treasures of the Conservative Party of later years are in that place, wearing their ermine, taking a part in the legislative decisions of this country.
“The only characteristic they seem to have, the only defining feature that seems to get them a place in that House, is the fact they’re able to give several million pounds to this government.”
Mr Wishart’s comments follow reports in The Sunday Times that 15 of the last 16 Tory party treasurers have been offered a seat in the House of Lords having each donated more than £3 million to the party.
Liam James8 November 2021 18:22
Peston points out that Tory benches are relatively empty in the debate following a vote by MPs to override the Commons standards watchdog.
Following suit of the prime minister, perhaps?
Liam James8 November 2021 18:07
Labour MP given police protection after receiving threats blames ‘anger’ over Tory sleaze
A Labour MP has revealed how a man was arrested at Westminster for threatening him and blamed “anger” over allegations of Tory sleaze for the incident, Rob Merrick reports.
Andy McDonald has now been given police protection for events in his Middlesbrough constituency, after the man – who was already known to the police – travelled to London demanding to see him.
Liam James8 November 2021 17:53
Another new poll shows Tory slump amid sleaze row
The Conservatives are down three points on last week in a new poll by Redfield and Wilton, another indication of a slump in support borne of the sleaze scandal.
Unlike the earlier Ipsos Mori poll for the Evening Standard, the Tories stayed in front of Labour, though their lead was slashed to one percentage point with 37 and 36 per cent
Last week’s poll was taken days before the Owen Paterson affair reached boiling point when the government whipped its MPs into voting to prevent his suspension and create a new create a new Tory-dominated committee to dictate changes to the way standards allegations are investigated.
Liam James8 November 2021 17:37
Paterson was ‘used as pawn’ by Boris Johnson for attack on standards watchdog
Starmer says Owen Paterson was used “as a pawn” by Boris Johnson in his attack on the parliamentary standards committee.
The Labour leader said the now-resigned Tory MP was treated fairly by the inquiry which decided he should be suspended for a breach in lobbying rules.
He added that all MPs felt sympathy with Mr Paterson over the death of his wife by suicide.
The right thing for the prime minister to do was to tell Mr Paterson to accept his suspension, Sir Keir said, but he instead used his MP “as a pawn in an extraordinary attack on our commissioner for standards.”
He went on: “Threats to have money taken away from schools, hospitals and high streets unless members voted to undermine the commissioner.
… And a sham committee proposed so the government can set the judge and jury for future cases.
… This was a deliberate course of action. But the government was caught off guard by the public outcry, and they’ve climbed down.
Mr Speaker, this wasn’t a tactical mistake .. It was the prime minister’s way of doing business, a pattern of behaviour.”
Liam James8 November 2021 17:15
‘When required to lead he has chosen to hide’
Sir Keir continues: “He does not have the decency to defend what he did, or even to defend his actions.
“Rather than repairing the damage he has done the prime minister is running scared.
“When he is required to lead he has chosen to hide. His concern as always is self-preservation, not the national interest.”
Liam James8 November 2021 16:59
Intervention from Harriet Harman to ask why Steve Barclay, chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, is answering for the government rather than Jacob Rees Mogg.
She says it should fall to the Leader of the House to deal with matters of standards.
Liam James8 November 2021 16:50
Keir Starmer: Boris Johnson has ‘damaged our democracy’
Labour leader says Boris Johnson last week damaged himself, his party and “most importantly, our democracy”.
He says the prime minister has corroded public trust in parliament by giving “green light” to corruption.
Liam James8 November 2021 16:48
Government ‘regrets mistake’ over standards vote
Steve Barclay, the chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, is up to apologise on behalf of the government.
He said he and his colleagues “regret” the “mistake” they made last week over the issue of standards.
“I’d like, first and foremost, to express my regret and that of my ministerial colleagues over the mistake made last week.
“We recognise there are concerns across the House over the standards system and also the process by which possible breaches of the code of conduct are investigated.
“Yet whilst sincerely held concerns clearly warrant further attention, the manner in which the government approached last week’s debate conflated them with the response to an individual case.
“This House shares a collective interest in ensuring that the code of conduct reflects and fosters the highest standards of public life.
Liam James8 November 2021 16:41