In full: MPs debate sleaze and Parliamentary standards following Owen Paterson row

Описание: Boris Johnson "gave the green light to corruption" over the Owen Paterson row, Sir Keir Starmer said as MPs debated the standards process.

"Last week the Prime Minister damaged himself, he damaged his party and he damaged his democracy," Sir Keir told the Commons. "And when he deliberately undermines those charged with stopping corruption, he corrodes that trust."

On Mr Johnson's absence from the debate, he added: "Instead of leading from the front, he's cowered away. He is not a serious leader and the joke isn't funny anymore."

The Prime Minister was not present because he was travelling back by train from a hospital visit in Northumberland.

The Labour leader's remarks came as Steve Barclay, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, apologised on behalf of the Government and spoke of his "regret" about the events of last week.

Chris Bryant, the chairman of the standards committee, called for a motion on the events of last week, and on possible reform urged the House to "slow down [to] consider all the issues together".

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