Tory MP faces 30 day suspension from Parliament after lobbying investigation

26 October 2021, 09:50 | Updated: 26 October 2021, 11:21

Mr Paterson repeatedly broke lobbying rules
Mr Paterson repeatedly broke lobbying rules. Picture: Alamy

By Daisy Stephens

Tory MP and former minister Owen Paterson is facing a 30 day suspension from the House of Commons for breaking lobbying rules multiple times.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

The Parliamentary Committee on Standards has recommended Mr Paterson be suspended for 30 days over an "egregious case of paid advocacy" after investigating his lobbying for two companies - Randox and Lynn's Country Foods - he was a consultant for.

"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 into disrepute," the report read.

The investigation also found he had failed to declare his interest as a paid consultant to Lynn's Country Foods.

Ben Kentish brings latest from Owen Paterson findings

Responding to the report's findings, Mr Paterson said he had acted "properly, honestly and within the Rules".

"The process I have been subject to does not comply with natural justice," he said, in a statement published on his website.

"I was pronounced guilty by the Commissioner without being spoken to and the 17 witnesses who came forward to support me were also not spoken to and their written evidence ignored."

He described the investigation as "torturous and inadequate", saying: "Parliament's internal system of justice needs to operate properly with the principles of natural justice."

He added: "I am not guilty and a fair process would exonerate me."

The investigation was launched by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards in October 2019 following media reports that Mr Paterson had lobbied for two companies for which he was a paid consultant.

The commissioner found Mr Paterson, who has been the MP for North Shropshire since 1997, had breached a rule in the MP's Code of Conduct by making three approaches to the Food Standards Agency in November 2016 and 2017, relating to Randox and the testing of antibiotics in milk.

Read more: Govt secures first nationwide injunction against 'reckless and disruptive' eco mob

Read more: 'Sharp rise' in police facing action over claims they abused role for sexual purpose

The investigation also found he breached the same rule over seven approaches, also to the Food Standards Agency, for Lynn's Country Foods, and with four approaches to ministers in the Department for International Development relating to Randox and blood testing technology.

Mr Paterson also breached the code over use of parliamentary facilities by using his parliamentary office for business meetings with clients on 25 occasions between October 2016 and February 2020 and by sending two letters relating to business interests on House of Commons headed notepaper in October 2016 and January 2017.

After analysing the commissioner's findings, the Committee on Standards recommended he be suspended for 30 days.

Lobbying rules unlikely to change for the better, says Gina Miller

The Committee on Standards acknowledged there were mitigating factors around the investigation into Mr Paterson, including the death of his wife Rose in June 2020.

"Mr Paterson's wife took her own life in June 2020. The committee consider it very possible that grief and distress caused by this event has affected the way in which Mr Paterson approached the commissioner's investigation thereafter," the report said.

Read more: Judge sets deadline for Prince Andrew's testimony in sex-assault case

Read more: 'Stay tuned': Animal rights activists scale Govt building to demand 'defund meat'

Relating to the breach of use of his office, the committee also acknowledged Mr Paterson had been suffering from ill health which "made him less able easily to leave the parliamentary estate".

The committee added Mr Paterson's "passion and expertise" in food and farming matters was "admirable, as long as it is channelled within the rules of the House".

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Kate and William were pictured visiting a farm shop in Windsor together

‘Remarkable’ Princess of Wales deserves ‘a bit of privacy’ as she recovers, minister says as video emerges of farm shop trip

Japan Economy

Japanese central bank raises interest rate for first time in 17 years

Exclusive
The incident happened at the Harbour

Police refuse to investigate NHS worker who filmed and shared video of naked patient

The new football regulator is set to be introduced

Football regulator to 'put fan voices front and centre', but Premier League warns against 'weakening competition'

Aaron Taylor-Johnson is said to have been chosen as the new James Bond actor

Aaron Taylor-Johnson 'chosen as new James Bond', with actor 'to sign deal to take over from Daniel Craig this week'

File photo of a dentist

Hardly any dentists think government's plan to fix NHS dentistry will work, survey finds

The Queen alongside her grandchildren and great-grandchildren

Revealed: Princess of Wales' photo of Queen Elizabeth II, grandchildren and great-grandchildren was also edited

Australia Cyber Safety

Google, Meta and others face questions in Australia over cyber extremism threats

United Nations Nuclear Weapons

US and Japan seek UN resolution banning nuclear weapons in outer space

Keir Starmer has doubled down on his calls for an election as soon as possible

Keir Starmer vows to 'fix broken Britain' as he repeats calls for general election as soon as possible

Harry and Meghan have been demoted on the site

Harry and Meghan's profiles 'downgraded' on Buckingham Palace website alongside Prince Andrew

The government saw off 10 amendments from peers to the Safety of Rwanda Bill

MPs reject Rwanda Bill amendments as Sunak faces fresh battle with Lords over migrant plan

Election 2024 Trump

‘Impossible’ for Trump to post civil fraud bond of £356m, say lawyers

Georgia Election Indictment Lawmakers

Trump seeks to appeal against decision not to disqualify DA in Georgia case

Mike Lynch court case

Fallen tech star Mike Lynch painted as fraud mastermind in Hewlett-Packard trial

Russia Crimea

Putin extends rule in Russian election after harshest crackdown since Soviet era