Minister refuses to confirm government’s watchdog reform stance

A minister has refused to say whether or not Conservative MPs will be whipped to support controversial reforms to the parliamentary standards watchdog later today.

Treasury minister John Glen told Sky News earlier today: “It’s a procedural matter for the House of Commons.. over the apparent fairness of the way that investigation was undertaken,” he argued, adding, “that’s the concern that I think colleagues across the house have.”

He explained: “I think most people would agree that when there’s a dispute over someone’s conduct there’s got to be fair and due process before an outcome and a determination of the consequences is made. I think that’s the area the House of Commons, across all parties, will want to look at today.”

MPs will debate recommending the approval of former minister Owen Paterson’s recommended six-week ban from Parliament this afternoon.

Yesterday evening Dame Andrea Leadsom tabled an amendment to the motion recommending 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 be made up of four Conservative MPs, three Labour MPs and one SNP MP.

Labour’s shadow foreign secretary Lisa Nandy has slated the plans as proposing “the most appalling double standards in a hundred years”.