Minster appears to quash Paterson peerage rumours

When asked if disgraced ex-Conservative MP Owen Paterson would be made a lord, international trade secretary Anne Marie Trevelyan told Times Radio this morning that she “did not expect” this.

Her statement follows unconfirmed reports that Prime Minister Boris Johnson discussed a possible peerage for the former MP for North Shropshire during a phone call following his announcement of his intention to resign from his seat on Thursday afternoon.