No 10 refuse to agree with minister’s claim that Paterson row was ‘storm in a teacup’

This afternoon a Downing Street spokesperson denied with environment secretary’s claim that the Paterson row had been a “storm in a teacup”.

When asked yesterday whether he accepted that the government was in trouble due to allegations of sleaze, George Eustice MP told Sky News: “What we have seen is a Westminster storm in a teacup.

The No 10 spokesperson said “We fully recognise the strong feeling on all sides of the House on this”, when asked about Eustice’s comments.