Rees-Mogg said Paterson’s personal tragedy ‘clouded’ government’s judgment

Introducing the motion proposing to rescind the initial Owen Paterson vote, leader of the House of Commons Jacob Rees-Mogg has said that “simply the tragedy that affected Mr Paterson coloured and clouded our judgment incorrectly”, in reference to the government’s previous quashing of his suspension.

“It is as simple and sad as that,” he told MPs this afternoon.

Mr Paterson has claimed that the standards investigation into his conduct  played “a major role” in his wife’s suicide last year.