Labour MP demands Gove clarify whether MPs had constituency funding threatened in Paterson row
A Labour frontbencher has demanded that the minister for levelling up housing and communities clarify whether MPs had constituency funding threatened in last week’s Paterson row.
Steve Reed’s letter follows the Financial Times report that Conservative MPs were threatened with reduced levels of constituency funding if they did not vote in line with the government’s whip on the motion regarding Owen Paterson’s recommended 30-day suspension from the Commons.
The shadow minister for communities & local government wrote: “Michael Gove must confirm whether ministers threatened to cut funding for schools, hospitals and high streets to coerce Conservative MPs into voting to cover up corruption.”
He suggested that the reports, if true, would be a “serious misuse of ministerial power”.
