Zahawi claims people ‘conflated’ parliamentary standards reform with Paterson case

The Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi has today suggested that people ‘conflated’ parliamentary standards reform with the government wishing to quash Owen Paterson’s suspension.

Mr Zahawi told Sky News Breakfast programme this morning that: “The Prime Minister has always been clear… paid lobbying is not allowed”.

He argued that people “conflated” Owen Paterson’s case with the Conservative Party’s push for a ” a fairer system” and appeals process for parliamentary standards.

“That was the mistake and I think it was right to return to parliament and reflect that,” he explained.

He later admitted to not having read the Commission’s report on Paterson in full.

Labour MP Chris Bryant, who chairs the House of Commons Committee on Standards, has hit back at Zahawi’s remarks via Twitter:

The problem with @nadhimzahawi and @Jacob_Rees_Mogg argument that the government wasn’t trying to conflate an individual case with reform of the system is a) that is precisely what the govt amendment did and b) I told them so in the Commons but they still voted for it.

— Chris Bryant (@RhonddaBryant) November 5, 2021