A Tory MP found to have broken strict lobbying rules has dodged being suspended after party colleagues voted in favour of a UK Government-backed proposal to overhaul Westminster's disciplinary process.
There were shouts of “shame” and “what have you done to this place” from the oppositions MPs as the House voted 250 to 232, majority 18, to approve the amendment.
Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner accused the Tories of being “rotten to the core” after the “absolute disgrace”.
She said the party will “not be taking any part in this sham process or any corrupt committee”, with the SNP also saying it would boycott the overhaul.
In an unprecedented move, most Tory MPs chose not to back the cross-party Standards Committee’s call for a six-week ban from Parliament for Owen Paterson after it was ruled that he repeatedly lobbied ministers and officials for two companies paying him more than £100,000 per year.
Instead, the House of Commons backed a Tory amendment calling for a review of his case after Conservative MPs were ordered to support the bid and Boris Johnson questioned whether the investigation into Mr Paterson was fair as his party was accused of “wallowing in sleaze”.
The MP for North Shropshire, who angrily denied the findings against him, could have faced recall proceedings that may have triggered a by-election if the recommended six-week suspension had been approved.
Ministers had placed Tories under a three-line whip to support the amendment tabled by Andrea Leadsom.
All Labour, Lib Dem, SNP and the vast majority of independent MPs voted against the move.
Shadow Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said: "Today Douglas Ross and the Scottish Conservatives had a chance to stand with the public and vote against clear bids to buy access to Government.
“Instead Douglas Ross gave up on trying to whip his MPs and sat on his hands.
"What the Tories fail to understand is you can't stand up for the Union when you want to undermine it to help line your chum's pockets."
The Labour MP continued: "This is about them trying to change the rules after they’ve been caught breaking them.
“Because under the Tories it is one rule for them, and another for the rest of us.”
As well as reviewing Paterson’s case, the amendment calls for a Conservative-majority committee led by former culture secretary John Whittingdale to examine the standards system.
Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards Kathryn Stone recommended a ban from the Commons of 30 sitting days for Mr Paterson in a report approved by the Standards Committee.
Stone’s investigation found he repeatedly lobbied on behalf of two companies for which he was acting as a paid consultant – Randox and Lynn’s Country Foods.
Paterson claimed the investigation was unfairly conducted and argued the manner in which it was carried out had played a “major role” in his wife Rose’s suicide last year.
The Prime Minister, who voted for the amendment, said paid lobbying in the Commons “is wrong” and those “who are found guilty of that should apologise and pay the necessary penalties”.
“But that is not the issue in this case or this vote that is before us,” he added to MPs.
“The issue in this case, which involved a serious family tragedy, is whether a member of this House had a fair opportunity to make representations in this case and whether, as a matter of natural justice, our procedures in this House allow for proper appeal.”
Rayner, standing in for Labour leader Keir Starmer during Prime Minister’s questions after he had a positive coronavirus test, accused the Conservatives of “wallowing in sleaze” and of a move showing it is “one rule for them and one rule for the rest of us”.
To sign up to the Daily Record Politics newsletter, click here.
