Labour chair hits back at claims Stone should consider position amidst Paterson row

Labour party chair and MP Anneliese Dodds has said the government must get Parliament out of the “sleazy mess” they have created,” and blasted a minister’s suggestion regarding the future of the current standards commissioner.

Ms Dodds, who also serves as shadow women and equalities secretary, told Sky News Breakfast programme today that: “They [the government] can’t press ahead with this approach.”

She suggested that the Leadsom amendment “ ripped up” the previous standards committee ”because they didn’t like the response that came from it.

“Really what they need to do is to look again,” she explained, adding “l It’s not for Labour to answer the questions for the Conservative Government – they’ve created this sleazy mess, now they’ve got to get our Parliament out of it.”

When asked if commissioner Kathryn Stone ought to consider her future in the position, as implied by business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng earlier today, Ms Dodds said: “Absolutely not.”

Dame Andrea Leadsom’s amendment 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”.

Yesterday MPs voted 248 to 221 in favour of the amendment.

It suggests that the new committee is made up of four Conservative MPs, three Labour MPs and one SNP MP, however there have been indications opposition MPs could boycott the panel.