Boris Johnson news: Owen Paterson was ‘used as pawn, Starmer says

Hello, and welcome to The Independent’s rolling politics coverage.

Stay tuned to hear the latest from inside Westminster as MPs prepare to take part in a debate on Commons standards following the Conservatives’ sleaze scandal last week.

Parliament will hold an emergency debate on standards this afternoon, which Keir Starmer has told his political opponent Boris Johnson he should attend – and apologise to the country in.

Speaking on Sunday, the eve of the parliamentary showdown, Sir Keir told reporters: “Boris Johnson needs to attend this debate … The country is yet to hear a word of contrition over his attempts to create one rule for him and his friends and another for everyone else. He must now come to the House and say sorry. And he needs to go beyond just words.”

During the parliamentary showdown, the Lib Dems are set to to call for an independent inquiry into the controversial events of last week, while Sir Keir will reportedly call for a probe specifically into the work and access given to Mr Paterson’s clients who he was found to have lobbied for.

Our policy correspondent Jon Stone has more:

Letr’s hear from, Chris Bryant, Labour MP for Rhondda and chair of the standards committee which published the report on Own Paterson last week, now.

Ahead of the debate today, he said he wants to see a “proper and robust system of standards” in the Commons after Mr Paterson resigned last week.

“The issue is if standards matter to MPs. The majority of us went into politics to make the world better,” he told BBC Breakfast. “Last week’s motion which was carried means we are setting up an alternative committee and we have parked the issue of whether [Mr] Paterson was guilty or not in a layby. We have to decide it was inappropriate behaviour.

“I believe in parliament and the ability to change things.”

He added the “most important thing” is that the government “sticks out on disciplinary processes”.

Chris Bryant revealed he was given a round of applause when he got on a train last week after a speech he made in the House of Commons in regards to the sleaze scandal.

He said: “I want MPs to be able to do their job properly. I have some Conservative friends I disagree with about almost everything but they’re trying to change the world for the better. If there is corruption in the British political system you can’t do that.”

Mr Bryant said he believes “we were corrupted last week” but he “wants us to move forward and we can come to a clear decision on the Owen Paterson case”.

However, asked about the impact of the incident on her own constituents, trade secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan signalled her constituents cared about other issues far more.

Recounting Mr Bryant’s story of being applauded by the public, BBC Breakfast’s Dan Walker asked Ms Trevelyan: “But you’re saying your constituents didn’t care?”

The minister went on to say she had in fact received “a small number of emails” about “how the vote went last week”.

Boris Johnson shouldn’t attend an emergency debate in the Commons on standards and sleaze and can follow proceedings on television, a cabinet minister has said.

Asked whether Mr Johnson will be attending the debate, the international trade secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan told Sky News: “I’m afraid I don’t know that. These sorts of debates are usually led and fronted by the ministers — I imagine, but I’m afraid I don’t know, that Jacob Rees-Mogg and the [Commons] leader’s team will probably be covering.”

Quizzed on whether Mr Johnson should be attending, she replied: “My opinion would be that no he shouldn’t be there. “He will no doubt — as we all do — have the House of Commons on in his office as he’s dealing with many, many other issues that only a prime minister that can deal with.”

Our political correspondent Ashley Cowburn reports:

Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the Commons speaker, will make a statement on the issue of MPs’ standards, a Cabinet minister has said.

International trade secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan told Sky News that an emergency debate on Monday would see “concerns from many colleagues” around the issue of appeals in the standards system.

Despite the onslaught of criticism facing the Conservatives after last week, the international trade secretary has said there is no “wider problem” with corruption in politics.

“The standards system that we have looks into individual situations where they come up, and those have been dealt with, and, indeed, the debate this afternoon will continue again,” Anne-Marie Trevelyan told BBC Breakfast.

“I don’t consider that there’s a need for an inquiry in something. Why? Because I don’t think there is a wider problem here.”

Ms Trevelyan was later seen on Sky News saying she had “no doubt” the standards commissioner Kathryn Stone will stay in her job – a reassurance only necessary due to Tory MP Kwasi Kwarteng suggesting Ms Stone, who is independently appointed, should “consider her position” amid the chaos last week.

All timings approximate and subject to business

2.390pm Work and pensions questions

3.30pm An emergency debate on standards

6.30pm Environment Bill – consideration of Lords amendments

Telecommunications (Security) Bill – consideration of Lords amendments

Opposition Day Debate – a humble address on reducing the backlog in criminal courts

A short debate on UK vaccine strategy

3.15pm Social Security (Uprating of Benefits) Bill – third reading

Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill – committee stage (day 6)

The Mirror’s Lizzy Buchan reports the following from this morning’s news programmes: