Keir Starmer has branded the result of today’s Conservative standards vote “corruption”, saying he is “sick of people skirting around calling” the issue otherwise. “Corruption,” the Labour leader tweeted. “There is no other word for it.”
It comes after Tory MPs voted to approve an amendment to rewrite Commons sleaze rules and prevent the immediate suspension of former Tory minister Owen Paterson, who was recently found to have breached a ban on paid lobbying.
“Paterson was receiving money from a private company to ask questions on its behalf ... [he] should be gone,” Sir Keir said.
As soon as the result was announced in the chamber, with the final count coming in at 250 to 232, jeers and cries of “shameful” could be heard.
Meanwhile, Labour’s deputy leader, Angela Rayner, described the move as a “disgrace”. She also confirmed her party “will not be taking any part in this sham process or any corrupt committee” – referring to a new standards body set up under the changes. SNP and Lib Dem politicians have said they will take the same action.
