Senior Tory MPs last night launched a last-ditch attempt to spare Owen Paterson from a 30-day Commons suspension for an ‘egregious’ breach of lobbying rules.
In an unprecedented move, allies of the ex-minister will today refuse to accept the findings of a report by the anti-sleaze watchdog and instead call for a reform of the system.
Former business secretary Andrea Leadsom has tabled a parliamentary amendment that would see Mr Paterson’s potential suspension paused pending a review.
Tory whips will back the Leadsom amendment when it comes to the vote today. Last night, a Government source said the amendment would get the PM’s backing if it is selected.
The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards last week found Mr Paterson guilty of an ‘egregious case of paid advocacy’ on behalf of two companies, Randox and Lynn’s Country Foods, for which he was acting as a consultant.
Owen Paterson, pictured with his late wife Rose, claimed the ‘biased’ way the inquiry was carried out was a major factor in her suicide last year.
In a damning report, Commissioner Kathryn Stone recommended Mr Paterson should be suspended for 30 days, which could trigger a by-election in his North Shropshire constituency.
Mr Paterson has maintained his innocence and claimed the ‘biased’ way the inquiry was carried out was a major factor in the suicide of his wife Rose last year.
His allies have since called for changes to be made to the system so politicians can appeal.
The Leadsom amendment will only be put to a vote if selected by Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle.
Last night, it was revealed that Government whips would tell Tory MPs to back the amendment that would effectively lead to the standards watchdog being disbanded.
It was suggested this could even lead to the resignation of Miss Stone. Sir Lindsay is reportedly concerned that overturning the Commissioner’s recommendations risks bringing the House into disrepute.
But his predecessor, John Bercow, has said the process leading to the ban was ‘indefensible’ and was not ‘conducted in accordance with natural justice’.
In a letter to Mr Paterson, Mr Bercow said: ‘You have experienced a protracted, Kafkaesque process.’
And he said it was ‘wrong and indefensible, 14 months after launching her investigation, that [Miss Stone] should write her
