Owen Paterson lobbying scandal justifies ‘recall’ laws – The Yorkshire Post says

The ruling that Mr Paterson be suspended from the House of Commons for 30 days is so serious that it now triggers the so-called ‘recall’ rule where a by-election has to be held if at least 10 per cent of his constituents endorse such a move.

Philip Allott has gone, now it’s time to change the law - The Yorkshire Post says

This comes after Kathryn Stone, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, ruled that the senior MP’s lobbying of officials and quangos on behalf of two companies for which he was acting as a paid consultant – Randox and Lynn’s Country Foods – was “an egregious case of paid advocacy” that brought the Commons “into disrepute” between October 2016 and February 2020.

Yet, assuming the Commissioner’s findings are endorsed by MPs, it will be for Mr Paterson’s constituents to determine if he has already been punished enough after his wife Rose, the much-respected chair of Aintree Racecourse and Jockey Club member, took her own life in June last year.

This case also explains why The Yorkshire Post continues to press, in the wake of the recent scandal to engulf the now-ex North Yorkshire police, fire and crime commissioner Philip Allott, for the recall laws to be extended to cover all public figures if their conduct, and actions, falls short of the standards expected of them. And it also means that the final arbiters of any misconduct or scandal are ultimately the most important people of all – the electorate.

Support The Yorkshire Post and become a subscriber today. Your subscription will help us to continue to bring quality news to the people of Yorkshire. In return, you’ll see fewer ads on site, get free access to our app, receive exclusive members-only offers and access to all premium content and columns. Click here to subscribe.