Tory sleaze scandal: MPs will vote today on new rules to ban paid consultancy work

17 November 2021, 00:55

MPs will vote today on new rules to curb their outside business interests amid a fresh row over alleged Tory "dirty tricks" and Westminster "sleaze".

In a surprise initiative, Boris Johnson announced on Tuesday that he supported a ban on paid consultancy work called for by Labour.

It comes after a vote took place on November 3 to go against the parliamentary watchdog and delay Owen Paterson's suspension, following an ongoing lobbying row.

A motion to reverse the so-called Leadsom amendment - intended to establish a review of the MPs standards investigation process and delay Mr Paterson's suspension for breaking lobbying rules - had been tabled by Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg for Monday evening.

But Tory MP Christopher Chope blocked the motion on Monday by shouting "object" in the Commons chamber, meaning it could not be approved this evening.

Chope says colleague should 'apply her mind' to process on Paterson

The prime minister timed the announcement this afternoon just as Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer was about to give a speech on the party's own proposals to address sleaze – and the day before a vote called by Labour to ban MPs from paid consultancies.

The move provoked a furious response from Labour who accused ministers of "watering down" their original motion, effectively making it non-binding.

Read more: Boris Johnson backs ban on MPs' lobbying after Tory sleaze scandal

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Labour's text calls for a ban on "any paid work to provide services as a parliamentary strategist, adviser or consultant".

Crucially, it also includes provisions requiring the Commons Standards Committee to come forward with proposals to implement the ban and guaranteeing time on the floor of the House for MPs to debate and vote on them.

In contrast, the more vaguely worded Government amendment simply describes the consultancy ban as "the basis of a viable approach" and supports the work of the Standards Committee to update the MPs' code of conduct.

Shadow Commons leader Thangam Debbonaire said: "Labour has put forward a binding motion to start to clean up our politics after the Tory sleaze scandal. The Conservatives are trying to water that down.

"Boris Johnson has been backed into a corner and one minute accepts our motion in a letter to the Speaker but then comes forward with an amendment that will remove the central part that guarantees that action will be taken.

"This is typical Tory dirty tricks."

Labour MP hits out at government over Owen Paterson report

A second Labour motion will attempt to the force the Government to release minutes of meetings between ministers, officials and Randox.

Randox is the diagnostics company which employed Owen Paterson, the former cabinet minister who triggered the storm, as a consultant.

Read more: Boris Johnson backs ban on MPs' lobbying after Tory sleaze scandal

Read more: Christopher Chope tells fellow Tory MP to 'apply her mind' in Commons sleaze bust-up

Ministers will hope their amendment will placate Tory MPs still angry over the Government's handling of the issue by sparing them the prospect of having to vote against a ban on paid consultancies.

However the move has infuriated some senior Conservatives, upset at the prospect of having to give up lucrative consultancy contracts, although it would appear unlikely there will be enough rebels to overturn the Government's majority.

Mr Johnson, meanwhile, will come under further scrutiny when he faces detailed questions from senior MPs on the Commons Liaison Committee on "propriety and ethics in Government".

Tory MP defends commons standards procedures

The Prime Minister set out his proposed reforms in a letter to Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle, including two key recommendations from the Committee on Standards in Public Life's report on MPs' outside interests from 2018.

These included changing the code of conduct so that any outside work should be "within reasonable limits" and "not prevent them from fully carrying out" their duties.

Those who failed to comply should be "investigated and appropriately punished".

His proposed changes would also ban MPs from accepting paid work as a parliamentary strategist, adviser or consultant, and from accepting payment or offers of employment to act as political consultants.