Boris Johnson will not apologize for the botched Owen Paterson handling, as No.10 indicated yesterday.
The PM’s spokesman dodged repeated questions regarding whether he was sorry for starting the row that led the flood of allegations.
But MPs will next week be invited to ‘unpick’ the PM’s bid to save the ex-environment secretary from suspension over an ‘egregious’ breach of lobbying rules.
Boris Johnson is pictured. He didn’t seem to be ready for an apology for his handling of Owen Paterson scandal.
The plan committee was to create new conduct rules.
Party whips had pushed through that change by 250 votes to 232 – but more than 50 Tory MPs rebelled and the plan was abandoned the next day following a public outcry.
A new vote will be held on suspension.
Although Mr Paterson denies any wrongdoing, his resignation was announced last week by MPs. However, they want to see the formal proceedings against him.
Former chief whip Mark Harper called on Monday for the PM to say sorry, saying that ‘if the team captain gets it wrong I think he should come and apologise’.
MPs will next week be invited to ‘unpick’ the PM’s bid to save Owen Paterson, pictured, from suspension over an ‘egregious’ breach of lobbying rules
Mr Johnson refused to apologise for his approach on Monday, telling reporters: ‘I don’t think there’s much more to be said about that particular case, I really don’t.’
Cabinet Office minister Steve Barclay expressed ‘regret’ for the ‘mistake’ made in the handling of Mr Paterson’s case.
But asked if the PM would apologise, his spokesman said: ‘You have had the Prime Minister’s answer on that.’
Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg confirmed last night that ministers will perform a full U-turn on last week’s attempt to tear up Parliament’s anti-sleaze rules.
MPs will now be asked to vote next week to scrap a planned committee which was designed to come up with a new set of rules for policing MPs’ conduct.
A second vote will be held to decide whether or not they approve the report of the standards committee, which suggested that Mr Paterson should be removed for 30 days.
After No 10, which withdrew its support, the former secretary for environment denied wrongdoing and resigned.
The MPs still want him in court, even though it’s no longer feasible to remove him from the Commons.