Minister questions parliamentary standards investigator’s future after MPs block Paterson suspension

Business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng has said it is “difficult” to see a future for Kathryn Stone, the independent parliamentary commissioner for standards who suggested that Conservative MP Owen Paterson be issued a 30-day suspension from parliament after being found to have been in “egregious” breach of lobbying rules.

“I think it’s difficult to see what the future of the commissioner is, given the fact that we’re reviewing the process and we’re overturning and trying to reform this whole process,” he told Sky News Breakfast programme this morning, adding: “But it’s up to the commissioner to decide her position.”