Mark Fletcher, new Conservative MP for Bolsover who sits on the Standards Committee: “I had no problem voting for the report which was discussed last week [on Owen Paterson] I would do the same again today.”
Difference in attitudes between Conservative intakes (which has been reported on) on display in the debate.
Fletcher: “Mr Paterson would have been found to have broken the rules under any process that we create and we should not kid ourselves on that front.”
Fletcher bristling at older colleagues’ suggestions that new intake doesn’t know how the House works: “two years in this place is long enough to know the difference between right and wrong.”
Defends current standards process and presence of lay members.
Defends current standards process and presence of lay members.
“The rush to create a new system without full consideration is us at our very worst. I’m a proud member of the 2019 intake who came here determined to deliver a better politics for our constituents...improvements can be made but rushing through risks creating a bigger mess.”
Quite the speech from a 2019er (PM’s powerbase) who as I say sits on the committee- effectively strongly criticising the entire of approach of Downing St since Wednesday and how they’ve framed the debate.
Another 2019er Aaron Bell: “I know many of my friends within the 2019 group have a miserable time since last Wed’s vote. I know many of them wish they’d voted differently and are beating themselves up about that...my friends should not have been put in that invidious position.”
Bell says House business should never have been whipped.
These speeches will be uncomfortable listening for both the Chief Whip, Rees Mogg and the PM.
These speeches will be uncomfortable listening for both the Chief Whip, Rees Mogg and the PM.
Trouble on Tory benches not confined to 2019 intake. Mark Harper, former Conservative, Chief Whip has said that PM as the “team Captain” should come to the House and apologise to his party and the public.
Jeremy Wright (former Attorney General): “The amendment that was passed last week sought to do a number of things which were wholly wrong...w some unfair and gratuitous attacks on the integrity/competence on the parliamentary commissioner for standards who has no right of reply.”
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