Debates between Jacob Rees-Mogg and Bill Wiggin during the 2019 Parliament

Committee on Standards

Debate between Jacob Rees-Mogg and Bill Wiggin
Wednesday 3rd November 2021

(2 years, 4 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Jacob Rees-Mogg Portrait Mr Rees-Mogg
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Mr Speaker, my hon. Friend has made a mini-speech very pithily.

Bill Wiggin Portrait Bill Wiggin (North Herefordshire) (Con)
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Once again, we are seeing this become partisan. We are examining the cases of the individual, but for me the key thing that is not right is that even the Commissioner is in an impossible position. Therefore, we desperately need to reform a system that puts the staff in that place.

Jacob Rees-Mogg Portrait Mr Rees-Mogg
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I am grateful to my hon. Friend, because that helps me to get back to the point about process. The 2015 Committee on Standards report on “The Standards System in the House of Commons” noted that the provisions relating to the panel had “never been invoked”, questioned why the investigatory panel was “necessary” and recommended that the provisions be “reviewed”. However, the House never chose to remove these provisions, so this was an active mechanism open to the Commissioner and the Committee, which they decided not to use. It is the Government’s belief that it is right to allow the House to revisit whether, to ensure natural justice, our procedures should be changed to give Members of Parliament the same or similar rights—including the right of examination of witnesses—as apply to those subject to investigations of alleged misconduct in other workplaces and professions.