A cabinet minister has questioned the future of parliament’s sleaze investigator after her recommendation of a 30-day suspension for a Conservative MP was blocked by the prime minister and his Tory colleagues.

Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng told Sky News that it was “difficult” to see a future for Kathryn Stone, the independent parliamentary commissioner for standards.

It comes after her recommendation of a suspension for North Shropshire MP Owen Paterson, after he was found to have breached lobbying rules during his £110,000 a year private sector work, was blocked by Conservative MPs.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

In a controversial House of Commons vote on Wednesday, which saw Boris Johnson’s government accused of “corruption”, Tory MPs passed a motion in favour of ignoring Ms Stone’s recommendation.

They also supported the creation of a new Conservative-majority committee to look into a complete overhaul of parliament’s standards rules and to reconsider Mr Paterson’s case.

Asked about Ms Stone’s future following the action by his fellow Tory MPs, Mr Kwarteng told Sky News: “I think it’s difficult to see what the future of the commissioner is, given the fact that we’re reviewing the process and we’re overturning and trying to reform this whole process.

“But it’s up to the commissioner to decide her position.”

Owen Paterson: Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer accuses Boris Johnson’s government of ‘corruption’ after vote to protect MP from being suspended

Owen Paterson: Ex-minister defends lobbying for two firms after suspension from parliament halted

Owen Paterson: Govt-backed axing of Standards Committee will be condemned as Tory stitch-up

Pressed on whether he was calling for Ms Stone to resign, the business secretary added: “It’s up to her to do that, it’s up to anyone where they’ve made a judgement and people have sought to change that to consider their position, that’s a natural thing.

“But I’m not saying she should resign.”

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Ms Stone’s term as commissioner is due to finish in December next year and her office has said she will serve her full term.

Related posts:

Top lawyer will have ‘carte blanche’ with review into firm Cameron lobbied for, says PM Devil will be in the detail of Australia trade deal – this is what we know so far PM’s plan to quit, ‘rambling stories’ and ‘hopeless’ Hancock – what Cummings has claimed MPs enjoyed more than £60k of freebies to COVID test events – including England games ‘Sausage war’ between UK and EU ‘not even handbags at dawn’, MPs told France may be moved to red travel list – decision expected within days PM and Sunak not isolating despite being pinged after Javid’s positive COVID test Brexit is back, but for now the Northern Ireland Protocol row is a negotiation not a standoff Hancock accused of trying to ‘cash in’ on COVID after he’s approached to write book on pandemic UK calls on France to work ‘constructively’ on issue of Channel migrant crossings ‘WhatsApp me!’ Johnson fights on with promises to backbenchers in wake of Sue Gray report Nearly £9bn spent on PPE during coronavirus pandemic written off, Govt accounts show