Government grants new standards motion for Monday

The leader of the House of Commons Jacob Rees-Mogg has confirmed the government has tabled a new motion that would undo the government’s much-derided vote on Owen Paterson’s conduct.

The new motion, a key victory for opposition MPs and Conservative rebels, is expected to pass when the House returns from recess on Monday.

Owen Paterson resigned his North Shropshire seat in parliament following a heavy Commons backlash.

Rees-Mogg confirmed the government motion would:

  1. Rescind the resolution and order from the 3rd November.
  2. Approve the standards committee report which found Owen Paterson guilty of “paid advocacy”.
  3. Acknowledge Owen Paterson is no longer a member of the House.

The chair of the standards committee Chris Bryant welcomed the government’s decision.

“I am grateful that the government is tabling precisely the motion I asked for yesterday”.

Bryant also confirmed earlier today the standards committee will commission “a senior judicial figure” to advise on potential reforms to the standards process.