Govt may back reform of standards watchdog that could quash Paterson suspension

The Commons are set to vote this afternoon on a motion recommending former minister Owen Paterson’s recommended six-week ban from Parliament.

However, an amendment tabled yesterday evening by another ex-minister, Dame Andrea Leadsom recommends that “the current standards system should give Members of Parliament the same or similar rights as apply to those subject to investigations of alleged misconduct in other workplaces and professions”, which would entail the “right of representation, examination of witness and appeal”.

It suggests the new committee is made up of four Conservative MPs, three Labour MPs and one SNP MP. According to The Guardian, the government will whip in favour of the amendment.

This comes hours after leader of the House of Commons Jacob Rees-Mogg expressed doubts over the investigation.

Downing Street itself has previously refused to comment on whether the Prime Minister is in favour of the potential 30 day suspension of the MP.

Under a 2015 law brought in after the expenses scandal, any MP suspended for 10 plus days can face a petition in which constituents can request that a by-election be held.

The support of ten per cent of electors in Paterson’s North Shropshire seat would be required to prompt an election in the constituency. A similar process led to a by-election in Brecon and Radnorshire in 2019 in which the Conservative Party subsequently lost the seat to the Liberal Democrats.

Mr Paterson had a majority of 22,949 in North Shropshire over Labour in the last 2019 General Election.

The constituency has long been one of the Conservative Party’s safest seats in England.