A senior Tory has resigned as an MP after Boris Johnson U-turned to allow a fresh vote on his suspension for an alleged breach of lobbying rules.
Owen Paterson announced his resignation earlier today after the Prime Minister was forced into a retreat after preventing his immediate suspension by launching a review of the entire disciplinary system.
Johnson had supported an attempt by the former minister's allies to review the sanction until opposition parties refused to take part in a "corrupt" Tory-led committee tasked with the review.
The SNP has now called on the Tory PM to apologise after Nicola Sturgeon earlier accused his party of "classic corruption".
UK Government whips were working to reschedule a vote on a six-week suspension for Paterson after he was found to have repeatedly lobbied ministers and officials for two companies paying him more than £100,000-a-year.
But rather than face what looked like a likely defeat, Paterson said he had made the "painful decision" to resign as the MP for North Shropshire, triggering a by-election after a high-profile sleaze row.
In a lengthy statement, Paterson said: "I have today, after consultation with my family, and with much sadness decided to resign as the MP for North Shropshire.
"The last two years have been an indescribable nightmare for my family and me.
"My integrity, which I hold very dear, has been repeatedly and publicly questioned.
"I maintain that I am totally innocent of what I have been accused of and I acted at all times in the interests of public health and safety.
"I, my family and those closest to me know the same. I am unable to clear my name under the current system.
"Far, far worse than having my honesty questioned was, of course, the suicide of my beloved and wonderful wife, Rose.
"She was everything to my children and me. We miss her everyday and the world will always be grey, sad and ultimately meaningless without her."
Paterson thanked his staff and his family for all the work over his 24 years as an MP.
He added: "The last few days have been intolerable for us.
"Worst of all was seeing people, including MPs, publicly mock and deride Rose's death and belittle our pain. My children have therefore asked me to leave politics altogether, for my sake as well as theirs.
"I agree with them. I do not want my wife's memory and reputation to become a political football.
"Above all, I always put my family first.
"This is a painful decision but I believe the right one.
"I have loved being the MP for North Shropshire and have considered it a privilege to have been elected to serve my constituents for 24 years.
"I would like to thank my staff who have worked for me so loyally over many years. I also want to thank those who have stood by me so staunchly.
"I wish them all the best in that difficult but vital job of being a Member of Parliament.
"I will remain a public servant but outside the cruel world of politics.
"I intend to devote myself to public service in whatever ways I can, but especially in the world of suicide prevention.
"At this incredibly difficult time for my family, we ask that the media respects our privacy and lets us grieve my beloved Rose, the best person I ever met."
SNP MP Pete Wishart said: "Boris Johnson must now come to Parliament to answer for his grubby role in the Tory corruption scandal. The Prime Minister must perform a full U-turn, apologise to the Standards Commissioner, and commit to an independent inquiry into the growing problem of Tory sleaze, cronyism and corruption at the heart of the UK government.
"This Tory government is the sleaziest in decades.
"It has been beset by scandal after scandal - with the Prime Minister and his Tory colleagues guilty of breaking the ministerial code, acting unlawfully, handing peerages to donors, contracts to cronies and special access to their pals.
"The Owen Paterson affair is just the tip of the iceberg. It absolutely stinks.
"The shameful truth is that corrupt practices are endemic in the UK Parliament - and have been for decades under Tory and Labour governments. Westminster is the palace of sleaze - and it is broken beyond repair."
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