Politicians react to Paterson resignation

Opposition MPs have reacted to Owen Paterson’s resignation after a tumultuous few days in parliament, blaming the prime minister for his part in the affair.

Labour leader Keir Starmer said: “Boris Johnson must now apologise to the entire country for this grubby attempt to cover up for the misdemeanour of his friend.”

Liberal Democrat Chief Whip Wendy Chamberlain MP echoed Starmer’s words, saying: “This is Boris Johnson’s Super League moment. This corrupt government thought they could get away with rigging the system without anyone realising. Now they have been forced into a humiliating U-turn after a huge public backlash.”

Green Party MP Caroline Lucas was critical of the prime minister for his role in the affair, saying: “What really matters is that Johnson was never out to save Paterson’s skin but to attack the Standards Commissioner to protect his own.”

But some Conservative MPs have reiterated that the rules around standards need to be changed. Michael Fabricant, MP for Lichfield in Staffordshire, said: “Following Owen Paterson’s resignation as an MP, I do hope that all the major political parties can now work together to reform the broken system which investigated Paterson’s case. Justice must always be seen to be done and it was not in this case with a one woman judge and jury.”