Owen Paterson: Anger as Tory MP avoids suspension in rule shake-up

[jfman]

Originally Posted by Paul

One thing I have never quite agreed with is any MP having a second Job.

As an elected MP, your job should be serving your constituents, full time.
If you cant do that, then you should let someone else [who can] do the job.

Spot on.

[Dave42]

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

Monday's debate should be interesting! Johnson's not known for his apologies!

https://news.sky.com/story/sir-keir-...ebate-12463673

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Totally agree.

He who pays the piper calls the tune.

The best way for an MP to avoid conflicts of interests is by having no other jobs.

Johnson is doing it normal trick running away what a coward corrupt so and so

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by Dave42

Johnson is doing it normal trick running away what a coward corrupt so and so

This has all been an hysterical over-reaction and the PM had more important prior engagements. He will be there for PMQs on Wednesday anyway, so I'm sure the Opposition will have plenty of time to harangue him over this then.

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by Dave42

Johnson is doing it normal trick running away what a coward corrupt so and so

Getting Johnson accountable is like nailing jelly to the wall!

[daveeb]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

This has all been an hysterical over-reaction and the PM had more important prior engagements. He will be there for PMQs on Wednesday anyway, so I'm sure the Opposition will have plenty of time to harangue him over this then.

Yes he probably has a few peerages to sell before reluctantly rocking up to parliament. Answering questions about dubious conduct is not haranguing, it's being accountable which is something he doesn't think applies to him.

[TheDaddy]

Originally Posted by ianch99

This. Totally this and nothing else.

Increase the salaries to levels we see on the continent (top 5 countries) and also add a ban of taking up fat cat "positions on the board" for say, 3 years after leaving job to avoid any off grid influence.

Any salary increase needs to be off set by the "package" being cut overall, I heard if they claim all they can and most of the grippy members do I'd imagine, they can trouser 400k a year

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

Getting Johnson accountable is like nailing jelly to the wall!

Yes, but who wants to do that? I don't worry about difficult jobs like that if there's no practical purpose to doing so. Others, however, obsess about it!

[Russ]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

This has all been an hysterical over-reaction and the PM had more important prior engagements. He will be there for PMQs on Wednesday anyway, so I'm sure the Opposition will have plenty of time to harangue him over this then.

What exactly does Bumbling Boris have to do for you to not regard his actions as an “hysterical overreaction”?

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by daveeb

Yes he probably has a few peerages to sell before reluctantly rocking up to parliament. Answering questions about dubious conduct is not haranguing, it's being accountable which is something he doesn't think applies to him.

Dubious conduct? Now let's see.

1 Tory MP is faced with suspension following disciplinary proceedings.
2 Said Tory MP says it's unfair because the committee did not consider all his arguments and key witnesses were not called.
3 To address the complaint, the government suggests that a right of appeal be added to the process (just as happens extensively elsewhere).
4 This is put to the House, and the House says 'No way, Hosè.
5 Suggestion is withdrawn.

That is basically what happened, and at no time was it suggested that Owen Paterson should be 'let off the hook'. However, that is the line being peddled by the Opposition and the media.

And that's why it's being claimed that this is a storm in a Westminster tea cup.

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Originally Posted by Russ

What exactly does Bumbling Boris have to do for you to not regard his actions as an “hysterical overreaction”?

He has to do something wrong, not simply have a label thrown at him every time he takes action the opposition doesn't like.

This is just another opportunist swipe at the PM.

[jfman]

Old Boy reminds me of Comical Ali.

"There are no American tanks in Baghdad"

[Russ]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

He has to do something wrong

Oh ok how about encouraging people to shake hands at the start of the pandemic. Or clap for the NHS but not give them a decent wave rise. How about going in to lockdown far too late. How about calling the Track and Trace “world beating”? Maybe assuring us there would be no change in the border between Great Britain and Eire? How about missing 5 Cobra meetings? How about sending the virus in to care homes? How about saying he’s “not one for gestures” but did press ups in his office? How about refusing to close the border from India in case it offended the Indians?

I mean I could go on and on but maybe answer those for a start and we’ll see where we go from there?

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by Russ

What exactly does Bumbling Boris have to do for you to not regard his actions as an “hysterical overreaction”?

If anyone were happy for Johnson to lie to the Queen I'm not sure anything he has done since will cause them to questions his actions.

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by Russ

Oh ok how about encouraging people to shake hands at the start of the pandemic. Or clap for the NHS but not give them a decent wave rise. How about going in to lockdown far too late. How about calling the Track and Trace “world beating”? Maybe assuring us there would be no change in the border between Great Britain and Eire? How about missing 5 Cobra meetings? How about sending the virus in to care homes? How about saying he’s “not one for gestures” but did press ups in his office? How about refusing to close the border from India in case it offended the Indians?

I mean I could go on and on but maybe answer those for a start and we’ll see where we go from there?

You’ll have to wait while I seek out a publisher for the book I would have to write to answer that lot.

This is not a pandemic thread. However, I don’t blame you for this attempt at distraction since my essential point is that no-one asked for OP to be ‘let off the hook’. And I know that you cannot prove otherwise, which shows up this argument for what it is.

In my view, an appeals panel would probably uphold the original decision, but at least OP would have had the wind taken out of his sails.

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Originally Posted by 1andrew1

If anyone were happy for Johnson to lie to the Queen I'm not sure anything he has done since will cause them to questions his actions.

More distraction. This is about the Owen Paterson case. Happy to deal with other questions in the relevant threads.

[Russ]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

You’ll have to wait while I seek out a publisher for the book I would have to write to answer that lot.

No problem, I’m happy to wait. But you did ask.

This is not a pandemic thread. However, I don’t blame you for this attempt at distraction since my essential point is that no-one asked for OP to be ‘let off the hook’. And I know that you cannot prove otherwise, which shows up this argument for what it is.

Oh my apologies. How about proroguing parliament? Lying to the Queen? Lying to us that there would be no checks on good between GB and Ireland? Saying black people had “watermelon smiles”? Referring to his quarter-of-a-million pound salary as “chicken feed”? Lying to the press about how many EU people had applied for HGV licences? Lying about how many new hospitals would be built? Lying about how many new nurses we’d have?

Will they do you? Or would you like to add further perimeters to allow you more room to wriggle?

[jfman]

Owen resigned in disgrace. The case is closed. The only question is the diminishing credibility of the Government after it’s hapless attempt at getting him off the hook. And whether hapless Starmer can make any inroads.

I suppose now at what point would you find the Government failing in any way, shape or form is a side question. But I suspect the rest of us know the answer.