Owen Paterson

[Francescaisstressed]

Political parties aside, surely Owen Patterson avoiding suspension and the Tory party changing the rules for the mates goes against the very core of democracy?

When the people in power can bend the rules when they seee fit, and have noone to hold them to account I find it incredibly troubling.

@Platax Dominic Raab in Walton and Esher maybe?? Definitely on a sticky wicket I think as us the Wimbledon MP ---very close to Richmond kingston and Twickenham, all lib dem and Walton and Esher has lots of old school pro EU Torys

This may be of interest

inews.co.uk/news/24-mps-official-complaints-voted-overturn-sleaze-watchdog-what-they-did-1284387

After a respectable interval, Johnson will probably have him appointed to some sort of sinecure, chairing some quango or kicked upstairs to the Lords. I very much doubt it. That's a step too far even for Johnson.
How would it benefit him?

@jgw1

I wonder how Kwasi Kwarteng feels after his mauling on the radio this morning. Or is it just part of the job to trot out the party line and defend the indefensible?

I don't think it is the first time he has gone out to defend something on the breakfast shows only for the govt to do a u turn a few hours later. I wish I could remember which u turn it was.

[quote LakieLady]This may be of interest

inews.co.uk/news/24-mps-official-complaints-voted-overturn-sleaze-watchdog-what-they-did-1284387[/quote]
Thank you.
I forgot that my MP who has been saying that Owen Paterson should have the same employment rights as other professionals.
Presumably that also includes the same consequences if one was to have "one large glass of wine" in the afternoon while in the office.

@Puzzledandpissedoff

I would revel in seeing that lump of corruption get his comeuppance

So would I, but I'm not holding my breath
Even if he's not found another safe seat after a short pause, there are still plenty of non-jobs "heading things" to be had for those who've kept their connections green, not to mention directorships and the speakers' circuit at £20k a pop

Not my idea of a downfall, but there you go

Oh he'll milk it on the after dinner speeches circuit (although I think his time as PM has done away with the idea he's some great orator) and no doubt he'll get book deals for his memoirs and whatever half-baked biography he decides to pen next. But he's clearly rubbish with money and will always exceed his income.

But I will still keep hoping for a reputation ruining, delicious downfall!

You will all be mighty surprised to learn that Owen "integrity" Paterson was involved in a previous expenses scandal.

www.shropshirestar.com/news/2013/05/10/mp-owen-paterson-paid-back-8000-in-expenses/

It’s the complacency and arrogance which is so troubling. Our man looks like he’s going down - we’ll change the rules. No thought to integrity or rectitude.

And Paterson turning victim - the cruel world of politics, bringing his wife’s suicide into it. Odious.

Shame on the MPs that voted with govt. really wish Keir would get it together so that we have an opposition.

Please remember this when your MP is canvassing at the next election. Thank them if they did not support this, challenge them if they did.

You get what you vote for. The English love their Tories and this is what they do.

@jgw1 those country manors and horses don't just pay for themselves you know!!

@Stellaris22

Shrug. Given up caring now. We know this is an uncaring, corrupt government. Pretending to care about things like climate change while their funding does the opposite. Taking money from the poor to help their own. A PM saying he doesn’t care thousands have died from Covid.

We know this but they’ll still win every election, they know it so will keep treating people like rubbish. Taking away access to healthcare.

People know this and still vote for them. So I don’t have the energy to be outraged by a typical Tory move, just desperately sad about our future and what our children will have to inherit.

We get what we vote for as a country. We deserve everything we get.

I heard Paterson defending himself on a radio 4 interview.
He came across as greedy, arrogant and entitled. Basically, he’d been in parliament 24 years, how dare anyone question his behaviour?

@derxa

After a respectable interval, Johnson will probably have him appointed to some sort of sinecure, chairing some quango or kicked upstairs to the Lords. I very much doubt it. That's a step too far even for Johnson. How would it benefit him?

Paterson is an old boss of Carrie’s so assuming they got on ok that may be a factor

We get what we vote for as a country. We deserve everything we get.
Not really, the majority of people who voted didn’t vote Tory. We have a crap electoral system.

@User135644

You get what you vote for. The English love their Tories and this is what they do.

Wow there’s never an opportunity missed to bash the filthy English is there.

@robertcatesbynight

Please remember this when your MP is canvassing at the next election. Thank them if they did not support this, challenge them if they did.

I already tweeted mine (before the U turn). I didn’t vote for her (she’s a Tory) but my vote counts for nothing as she is in a safe Tory seat so I am pissing in the wind

• I forgot that my MP who has been saying that Owen Paterson should have the same employment rights as other professionals. Presumably that also includes the same consequences if one was to have "one large glass of wine" in the afternoon while in the office.*

Aye, and subject to the same fucking expenses rules as us ordinary mortals too!

I'm in the constituency of a government minister who has a distinctly shaky majority. Local discussion boards have been full of Conservative voters expressing their disgust at his vote supporting corruption

He's probably getting whatever he can out of the trough before it's too late. I've never been quite sure which are the worst ... MPs in safe seats who feel they're untouchable, or those with small majorities who gouge while the going's good

As for what Boris would get out of continuing to look after him, I'd say that's continued loyalty - which can be very important with someone who's been around for decades and probably knows where the bodies are buried

@daimbarsatemydogsbone

We get what we vote for as a country. We deserve everything we get. Not really, the majority of people who voted didn’t vote Tory. We have a crap electoral system.

Yeah, but if you add those who voted Tory to those that dont care enough to vote at all, you get a majority. And if enough of us cared we could switch to a system of proportional representation- only enough of us dont.

So, on balance, I do think we get what we (collectively) deserve.

@daimbarsatemydogsbone

User135644

You get what you vote for. The English love their Tories and this is what they do.

Wow there’s never an opportunity missed to bash the filthy English is there.

Its true though, it's England that votes Tory.

Any other party leader would have told Paterson to resign quietly or else, and it would barely have made the news. As it is, Johnson has significantly harmed Paterson, any MPs who obeyed the party line, and himself. You really have to be staggeringly inept to achieve all that.

Am I right in thinking this is absolutely perfect timing for HIGNFY? Looking forward to that.

You get what you vote for. The English love their Tories and this is what they do.

Wow there’s never an opportunity missed to bash the filthy English is there.

Its true though, it's England that votes Tory.

Yes precisely. I'm English, didn't take the first comment as 'bashing', just a statement of fact. It is England that puts the Tories into government.

jgw1 A recall petition would automatically be triggered if an MP was suspended by the Standards committee for at least 10 sitting days.
10% of the constituents would then have to sign the petition within the timeframe to trigger a by election.
I would suggest if Paterson had just quietly served his time his constituents might not have noticed, as it is it has be front page news for several days, they may be more minded to sign if the need arises.

So what happens now he's resigned?

@Biddie191

jgw1 A recall petition would automatically be triggered if an MP was suspended by the Standards committee for at least 10 sitting days. 10% of the constituents would then have to sign the petition within the timeframe to trigger a by election. I would suggest if Paterson had just quietly served his time his constituents might not have noticed, as it is it has be front page news for several days, they may be more minded to sign if the need arises.

So what happens now he's resigned?

A by election that presumably Paterson is not standing in.