Cumbria’s MPs have reacted to the controversy surrounding the plans to rip up parliament’s sleaze watchdog.
Last night the Prime Minister issued a three-line whip to his Conservative MPs ordering them to back an amendment which would see the Parliament’s sleaze watchdog ripped up and replaced and Owen Paterson’s suspension blocked.
The Government claimed the Commons standards committee system was “flawed” and was suffering from Brexit bias. It proposed setting up a new committee that would be chaired by a Conservative MP.
The amendment passed by 18 votes, with 13 Tory rebels voting against the Government and more than 100 abstaining.
What did Owen Paterson do?
In October, Mr Paterson was by the Commons standards watchdog to have “repeatedly used his privileged position” to benefit Randox, a clinical diagnostics company, and Lynn’s Country Foods, a meat processor and distributor.
Parliamentary commissioner for standards Kathryn Stone recommended the former minister should be suspended from the Commons for a month.
Following a two-year investigation, he was found to have breached the rule prohibiting paid advocacy by making a number of approaches to government departments and ministers for the two companies.
So what has happened now?
After a cross-party backlash, including from some of his own MPs, the Prime Minister has halted plans to scrap the parliamentary standards committee and replace it with a new committee chaired by a Conservative MP.
The Government still plans to look into reforming the committee but will now “bring forward more detailed proposals once there have been cross-party discussions,” Commons leader Jacob Rees-Mogg said.
Owen Paterson has now resigned as MP for North Shropshire after learning of the Government’s plans to hold a fresh vote on his suspension.
How did Cumbria’s MPs vote?
Workington MP Mark Jenkinson, Copeland MP Trudy Harrison and Penrith and the Border MP Neil Hudson voted with the Government on the controversial amendment last night.
Carlisle MP John Stevenson was among 13 Conservative rebels who defied the three-line whip and voted against the Government.
Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron and Barrow and Furness MP Simon Fell did not vote.
Why did the county’s MPs vote they way they did?
Conservative Carlisle MP John Stevenson – “I was on the standards committee for two years and I am aware of the investigation requirements, they are very extensive. The committee is made up of seven lay members and seven MPs and I read the report and from the evidence I saw I concurred with their view and their recommendation should have been carried out as they have for decades.
“Obviously I thought the Government had made a mistake and yes, the Government should have separated the two issues.
“I have no issues with reviewing how we look at reviewing MP standards. They (the Government) got it wrong and I am pleased with what they have done since.”
He added that he welcomed the resignation of Mr Paterson, saying that “he had done the right thing”.
“We created a set of rules, the committee investigates and they come to a conclusion and I support the committee’s assessments. They met with Owen and spent a lot of time on that and I have to respect the conclusion.
“It (the decision) was unanimous of seven lay members and seven MPs and I concurred with their view on the evidence. I was disappointed Owen decided not to accept that. Had he accepted that I think he would have remained an MP.”
Mr Stevenson added that any new committee has to be “cross-party”.
Conservative MP for Barrow and Furness, Simon Fell – “A broken ankle and leg prevented me from voting, but I believe that as public servants MPs have a duty to be honest, accountable and above reproach in their actions and words.
“I do not think that the current system serves those who have been accused, or the public, well. But that said, we should not simply change the rules as the result of a single case – to do so undermines the argument for strengthening the system and risks breaking trust with the public.
“I would have abstained on the amendment for that reason – I want to see change to a more robust and transparent system with a fair right of appeal, but not at this pace or for this one case.”
Liberal Democrat MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale, Tim Farron – “I was unable to record a vote on the motion because I was speaking at the Northern Farming Conference in Hexham which was a long-standing commitment as spokesperson for the Liberal Democrat Party and representative of the many farming interests in Westmorland and Lonsdale.
“We really need remote voting for MPs because I would have voted against the motion, had I been able to attend, just as the rest of my Liberal Democrat colleagues did.
“The Liberal Democrat Chief Whip has had an Emergency Debate application on Parliamentary Standards accepted for Monday, for which I will definitely be going to Westminster. I am glad that our party is not letting the Government put this matter to rest without a fight.”
Conservative MP for Penrith and the Border, Neil Hudson – Cumbria Crack has approached Mr Hudson for comment.
Conservative MP for Workington, Mark Jenkinson – Cumbria Crack has approached Mr Jenkinson for comment.
Conservative MP for Copeland, Trudy Harrison – “The vote was about changing a process which had been widely criticised – rather than Owen’s specific case – but of course I acknowledge the timing didn’t help make that point.”
