Angela Richardson, Tory MP for Angela was today dramatically reinstated as Michael Gove’s ministerial assistant – just 14hours after being dismissed over the Commons standard row.
Boris Johnson refused to allow Ms Richardson vote for an amendment that would have protected Owen Paterson, the former minister, from a 30-day suspension due to lobbying.
Last night, she revealed that she was fired and said that abstaining was a matter of principle.
After a dramatic U-turn from the PM this morning the Guidford MP confirmed she has gotten her job back.
“Pleased to be reappointed in my role as PPS for Michael Gove. She tweeted, ‘Busy department and work to do.
Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg announced the government has dropped plans for a retrospective overhaul of sleaze rules after a huge backlash at the ‘politically-motivated’ decision.
This means that a motion to suspend Mr Paterson for 30 jours for violating lobbying rules – as recommended by the cross party standards committee – is now being brought back before the House.
Angela Richardson, Tory MP for Angela (pictured), was today dramatically reinstated as Michael Gove’s ministerial assistant – just 14 hours following her dismissal over the Commons standard row
Ms Richardson announced at 7.18pm last evening that she was fired. She said she considered abstaining a matter of principle.
The Guidford MP has confirmed that she has been given her job back after a dramatic U turn by the PM this morning
The PM had flouted convention by ordering that his party oppose the conclusions made by the standards watchdog.
The amendment to ‘pause’ the process and calling on a reform of sleaze laws was only narrowly passed last evening, as he was subject to a major revolt, including by Ms Richardson.
The controversial bid by Mr Paterson to save him caused chaos. The current system for regulating MPs’ behaviour was in disarray and Opposition parties vowed to boycott the government’s plans to create a new one.
The Tory MP for North Shropshire, was last week found to have committed an ‘egregious’ breach of standards rules by directly advocating for two companies from which he pocketed some £500,000.
He denies any wrongdoing but says he would repeat it all. He has called for Kathryn Stone to be fired as standards commissioner. This was an action that was endorsed just hours before Stone’s volte face by Kwasi Kwarteng.
Addressing MPs amid growing signs of panic in Downing Street, Mr Rees-Mogg said today: ‘It is important that standards in this House are done on a cross-party basis.
“The House voted yesterday very clearly to show that it is concerned about the process for handling these complaints. We would like an appeals mechanism, but that would require a cross-party basis. This is clearly not the case.
‘While there is a strong feeling from both sides of the House about the need for an appeals procedure, there is also a strong feeling not to be based on one case or apply retrospectively.
“I fear that last night’s debate confused a specific case with the larger concern. This link must be broken.
Owen Paterson (right), one of the Tory MPs, voted yesterday to block Boris Johnson’s suspension.
Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg announced the government has dropped plans for a retrospective overhaul of sleaze rules after a huge backlash at the ‘politically-motivated’ decision
“Therefore, I and others will be looking at a cross-party basis in order to improve our system for future cases.
“We will make more detailed proposals after there have been cross-party talks.”
MailOnline was told by a government source that Mr Paterson would be suspended.
A Tory senior said that there would be many angry MPs who voted for the Government and gave up their power. Marched up to the top of the hill… ‘
Chris Bryant (Labour MP) was the chair of the Standards Committee and warned that retrospectively changing a system when an ally was in danger was ‘what they do to Russia’.
Lord Evans, ex-head of MI5 and Chair of the Committee for Standards in Public Life, said this morning that the decisions were ‘politically motivated.
Mr Johnson himself has previously clashed bitterly with Ms Stone, including over a £15,000 ‘freebie’ to Mustique with now-wife Carrie.