Ex Conservative Whip slates government for ‘unedifying’ U-turn on Paterson probe

The former Conservative Chief Whip has criticised the government for today’s U-turn on the suspension of Owen Paterson.

Mark Harper, the current MP for the Forest of Dean said via Twitter: “This is one of the most unedifying episodes I have seen in my 16 years as a Member of Parliament. My colleagues should not have been instructed, from the very top, to vote for this. This must not happen again.”

Mr Harper served as the Government Chief Whip under David Cameron between 2015 and 2016 before being removed by Theresa May when she became Prime Minister.

He previously served as Minister of State for Disabled People (2014-2015),

Harper was the Minister of State for Immigration between 2012 and 2014, but resigned in 2014 when it was discovered that his cleaner was an illegal immigrant.  He had been Parliamentary Secretary at the Cabinet Office between 2010 and 2012.