Tag: Leadership

The Observer has been told that before Owen Paterson resigned as an MP on Thursday, Conservative whips understood that the parliamentary commissioner for standards, Kathryn Stone, was seriously considering launching an investigation into the former Northern Ireland secretary’s lobbying of ministers since the pandemic began. She is also believed to be considering an inquiry into… Continue reading Dec 2021. Boris Johnson and Sleaze Part 6

Paterson, who announced his resignation as an MP last week, was paid more than £8,000 a month for 16 hours’ consultancy work by Randox Laboratories, until he resigned from the role on Friday. Randox was awarded two Covid testing contracts last year worth nearly £480m without the normal competition. Government officials cited the urgency of… Continue reading Dec 2021. Boris Johnson and Sleaze Part 5

Labour, the SNP, the Liberal Democrats and the Green party all switched their focus to the award of pandemic contracts, demanding investigations by the cabinet secretary, Simon Case, or the parliamentary commissioner for standards, Kathryn Stone, into Paterson’s contacts with ministers during the pandemic. https://vk.com/video677203037_456239239

A new Opinion poll for the Observer shows ratings for Johnson and his party have slumped dramatically, with the prime minister’s personal approval figures hitting their lowest ever level. https://vk.com/video677203037_456239227

The crisis facing Boris Johnson also worsened after the former Tory prime minister, Sir John Major, described his successor’s attempts to block Paterson’s suspension from parliament last week for breaching paid advocacy rules as “shameful”. https://vk.com/video677203037_456239226

The row over Tory sleaze reached new heights on Saturday night as MPs demanded details of any lobbying by Owen Paterson of government ministers on behalf of a company that won almost £500m of Covid-19 related contracts last year. https://vk.com/video677203037_456239214