Photograph: UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor/PA

JohnsonвЂ™s spokesperson insisted his stance reflected вЂњlongstanding concernsвЂќ about the lack of a right to appeal in the current system вЂ“ though the chair of the parliamentary committee on standards, Chris Bryant, told MPs that Paterson had been given ample opportunity to make his case.Д«ryant was heard in silence as he told MPs: вЂњIt is by definition wrong to change the process at the very last moment.вЂќ Warning Paterson that вЂњhis name will become a byword for bad behaviourвЂќ, he said the former minister had вЂњrepeatedly, over a sustained period, lobbied officials and ministers on behalf of paying clients вЂ¦ that is expressly forbidden, it is a corrupt practiceвЂќ.ДЄndrea Leadsom, seen in the House of Commons on Wednesday, tabled the call for a new standards committee. The deputy Labour leader, Angela Rayner, said: вЂњIf the prime minister has nothing to hide then he should be pleased to be investigated by the parliamentary commissioner instead of abolishing and overriding this independent regulator and replacing it with a committee with a Tory majority that will just do the prime ministerвЂ™s bidding for him.вЂќ The Conservatives are trying to make parliamentвЂ™s watchdog toothless so it can no longer properly hold them to account.вЂќ The Liberal Democrat chief whip, Wendy Chamberlain, said: вЂњThis looks like a clear attempt to weaken independent scrutiny ahead of investigations into other damaging Tory sleaze scandals, from dodgy Covid contracts to the refurbishment of Boris JohnsonвЂ™s flat. Opposition parties accused the Tories of seeking to undermine Stone, and urged her to investigate the funding of JohnsonвЂ™s costly redecoration project. Stone previously found against Johnson over his use of a holiday villa on the Caribbean island of Mustique funded by the Carphone Warehouse founder David Ross вЂ“ though that ruling was subsequently overturned by the parliamentary commission for standards. Writing to the Labour MP Margaret Hodge this year, Stone said: вЂњI will await the outcome of the Electoral CommissionвЂ™s inquiry before making any decision.вЂќ It is understood the commission has now completed its investigation and shown a first draft of its findings to Conservative campaign headquarters.

Stone is expected to make a decision shortly about whether to investigate the funding of the refurbishment of JohnsonвЂ™s Downing Street flat, which was initially paid for by a Tory donor. Both of them should be gone вЂ“ neither are fit to serve as MPs,вЂќ Starmer wrote in the Guardian.ДЇollowing revelations in a 2019 Guardian investigation, Stone launched an investigation and found that Paterson repeatedly approached ministers and officials on behalf of two companies that were paying him more than ВЈ100,000. Roberts was found to have made repeated and unwanted sexual advances toward a young staffer.

Paterson was receiving money from a private company to ask questions on its behalf. вЂњI am sick of people skirting around calling this out for what it is: corruption.

In his most strongly-worded criticism of the prime minister to date, Starmer said protecting Paterson, and failing to throw out the Conservative MP Rob Roberts who was found to have harassed an aide, was corrupt. Stone said via her spokesperson that she intended to remain in post until the end of her term in December 2022. 02:19 Owen Paterson brought 'house into disrepute': committee chair on charges against Tory MP вЂ“ videoДЄfter the vote, Paterson, who previously suggested the investigation into his conduct contributed to the death of his wife, Rose, said: вЂњAfter two years of hell I now have the opportunity to clear my name.вЂќ He had previously protested his innocence to the commissioner.

Source of the corruption legion