UK Rocked By Corruption Scandal As Ruling Party Votes To Protect Embattled MP

Britain's ruling Conservative Party, in an unprecedented move, voted in Parliament on Wednesday to overhaul the parliamentary standards system after it found a former Conservative Cabinet minister guilty of breaching lobbying rules and called for his suspension from parliament, with the vote meaning he will not be immediately suspended.

The move has caused huge controversy in Britain. The House of Commons, the lower chamber of parliament, has never voted against disciplinary action against an MP in the modern era.

Owen Paterson, a lawmaker with Britain's ruling Conservatives and a former government minister, was found to have broken lobbying rules on over a dozen separate occasions while he was a paid consultant with health tech firm Randox and meat producer Lynn's Country Foods, who together paid him over £100,000 a year. This was in addition to his £88,000 annual income as an MP.

The parliamentary watchdog report said: "The committee found that Mr. Paterson's actions were an egregious case of paid advocacy, that he repeatedly used his privileged position to benefit two companies for whom he was a paid consultant, and that this has brought the House (of Commons) into disrepute."

The result of the investigation by Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Kathryn Stone was a call for Paterson to be banned from parliament for 30 days, a situation that could have led to him being recalled by his constituents and triggering a by-election.

But many Conservatives argued that the process was unfair because Paterson did not have the right to appeal. As such, they argued, the decision should be reviewed.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered his MPs to vote for a proposal overhauling the parliamentary standards watchdog and in turn overrule Paterson's suspension.

Johnson has himself been embroiled in more than one scandal since taking office in 2019, with questions raised over payments relating to his foreign holidays and the refurbishment of his Downing Street flat, both of which generated considerable controversy.

The government won the vote with 250 MPs voting in favor and 232 against, a majority of 18. The Conservatives have a majority of 80. Thirteen Conservative MPs defied their leader and voted against the proposal and a further 98 Conservatives abstained, including Johnson's predecessor as prime minister, Theresa May.

Paterson was the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland from 2010 to 2012 and Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs from 2012 to 2014 under former Prime Minister David Cameron. Cameron himself was embroiled in a high-profile scandal earlier this year when it was revealed that he repeatedly lobbied ministers on behalf of a failing financial firm after leaving office.

After the vote, furious members of the opposition could be heard shouting in the House of Commons "Shame!" and "What have you done to this place?"

Lobbying

The investigation found that between November 2016 and November 2017, Paterson approached the Food Standards Agency (FSA) three times relating to Randox, as well as four times to ministers at the Department for International Development between October 2016 and January 2017.

The investigation also found that he approached the FSA seven times between November 2017 and July 2018 relating to Lynn's Country Foods.

The government's argument was that Paterson was denied "natural justice" and that many MPs have previously complained about the Standards Committee. They insisted it was nothing to do with Paterson personally.

"This isn't about one individual case, and we're not having a view on the ruling or looking to overturn the ruling," Johnson's press secretary said before the vote.

"It is argued that setting up an appeals mechanism would strengthen the regime, and some members of the Commons have lost confidence in the current system and we need to strengthen that and provide fairness for all members of Parliament."

As for Paterson, he said that the investigation was unfair and claimed that the way it was carried out "undoubtedly" played a "major role" in his wife's decision to commit suicide.

Paterson insisted that due to his lobbying efforts, milk in supermarkets was "safer than before" as it had previously contained "antibiotic residue."

In a statement after the vote, he said: "The process I was subjected to did not comply with natural justice."

"No proper investigation was undertaken by the commissioner or the committee. The Standards Commissioner has admitted to making up her mind before speaking to me or any witnesses.

"All I have ever asked is to have the opportunity to make my case through a fair process. The decision today in Parliament means that I will now have that opportunity."After two years of hell, I now have the opportunity to clear my name. I am extremely grateful to the PM, the Leader of the House, and my colleagues for ensuring that fundamental changes will be made to internal Parliamentary systems of justice."I hope that no other MP will ever again be subject to this shockingly inadequate process," he added.

Chris Bryant, an MP with the main opposition Labour Party who chairs the Standards Committee, said: "We reviewed and read all the witness statements. Nobody asked to make an oral witness statement."

"It's perfectly normal in most workplaces in this country, as a retired senior High Court judge confirmed to me yesterday, for witness statements to be read and considered and not necessarily questioned or cross-examined."

Speaking in parliament, Bryant added: "He did the one thing he was banned from doing -- lobby ministers in a way that conferred direct benefit on paying clients. That is forbidden. It is a corrupt practice."

Scottish National Party MP Pete Wishart said in parliament: "What the public is observing is a shoddy attempt to turn back the clock to the worst excesses of 1990s sleaze."

In the 1990s, as their previous era in power was drawing to a close before Tony Blair's 1997 landslide Labour victory, the Conservatives were embroiled in a series of sleaze scandals. Opposition politicians and some local media referred to the era after today's vote.

Fallout

In a series of scathing tweets, Deputy Labour Leader Angela Rayner said: "This is corruption. Owen Paterson was found guilty of breaking the rules by an independent committee. He took money from a private company and then lobbied Ministers on their behalf. So the Conservatives just voted to over-turn that committee's ruling."

"Today the Tories (Conservatives) voted to give a green light to corruption. Labour will not be taking any part in this sham process or any corrupt committee. The Prime Minister, Conservative Ministers and MPs have brought shame on our democracy.

"The Prime Minister won't change the rules to stop sexual harassment after a Tory MP was found guilty. But he has just confirmed that he will change the rules to allow cash for access after a Tory MP was found guilty of breaking the rules on paid lobbying. Says it all."

The vote to overhaul the standards system means that a Conservative-majority committee, led by another former Conservative minister, will be in charge of reforms, including issues such as the right of appeal and the examination of witnesses. The committee will also consider whether Paterson's case in particular should be reviewed.

Britain's main opposition parties Labour, the Scottish National Party and the Liberal Democrats have all said they will boycott this committee in charge of these reforms, bringing about an immediate legitimacy crisis. -