Good Morning. It has been almost 30 years since the Cash for Questions scandal, which showed how MPs were using their position as MP for personal gain. This led to the creation of the Committee on Standards in Public Life and a major overhaul of the rules governing what lawmakers were not allowed to do. The system has been criticized and revised over the past three decades, but overall it has survived cross-party support. But today Boris Johnson and the Conservatives are set to set aside that consensus vote to improve the system That would save former Tory cabinet minister Owen Paterson from a 30-day suspension for breaking lobbying rules.
The cross-party Commons Standards Committee recommended the sentencing based on the findings of an investigation from Catherine Stone, the parliamentary commissioner for standards. Since the end of World War II, the disciplinary recommendations of this committee or its predecessors have almost always been accepted by the Commons without a vote in general. For a standards committee that is being proposed today to be widely rejected is considered unprecedented.
here are my colleagues aubrey allegrettiPreview story.
However, it is not yet clear how it will be today. It is up to the speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, to decide whether he will allow a vote on the Tory amendment introduced by Andrea Leadsom, essentially rejecting the Patterson findings, and it is reported that Hoyle believes that, if MPs were to reject the Standards Committee report, Which would do “real reputational damage” to the Commons.
If Hoyle does not allow a vote on the amendment, Patterson’s supporters may try to reject the proposed suspension. But it will feel worse, because they will vote to defend the case without initiating a review. The proposed suspension may be approved after a split showing MPs split, perhaps largely along party lines. It would also be harmful, as it would show the process of controlling the conduct of MPs who no longer enjoy widespread cross-party support.
Labor has accused the government of seeking a return to “the worst of Tory sledge culture of the 1990s”. Last night, it was reported that Johnson wants Tory lawmakers to support the Leadsome Amendment, Thangam Debbonaire, the Shadow Leader of the Commons said:
It is shocking that government ministers are being encouraged to vote for a return to the worst of the 1990s Tory sled culture. A vote for this amendment would turn the clock back to the Neil Hamilton era, cash for questions and no independent standard procedure.
Let us not forget that the cross-party standards committee, including three Tory lawmakers, backed the commissioner’s 30-day approval for a rule violation surrounding advocacy of payments.
On Monday, the government failed to support the anti-sleaze report by Lord Evans of Weardale. Now that the Tories want to shut down systems that have served us well and which have been an important part of rebuilding public trust after the dark days of Tory sledges, this government is determined to return.
Here is the agenda for the day.
at 9 am: Chancellor Rishi Sunak held a press conference in Cop 26. For full coverage, read the Cop26 live blog.
at 10 am: Education Secretary Nadim Jahvi gives evidence to the Commons Education Committee.
12:00 pm: boris johnson face Angela Rayner, Deputy Labor Leader, in PMQs. Sir Keir starrer is still in isolation as he tested positive for Covid.
After 12.30 pm: Johnson makes a Commons statement on Cop26.
After 1.30 pm: MPs begin debate on the report of the Standards Committee Owen Patterson. Voting will take place after 90 minutes.
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