A Massive Owen Goal

In a series of unforced errors, the Government first whips its MPs to rescind the suspension of OWEN PATERSON MP for lobbying and rethink the entire Commons standards process… then suffers a rebellion and a roasting in the press… and then reverses their decision entirely. How damaging is this episode? And is there a case for reforming the system? Plus, we hear the latest on COP26 from RICHARD BLACK, senior associate of climate change non-profit the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, who’s on the spot in Glasgow.  • “Yes, there is a case to be made for reforming the standards process, but not when you’re investigating a former Cabinet Minister.” – JILL RUTTER • “If you have a PM who is willing to use his political capital to protect someone who has broken the rules, there is no recourse in our system” – TIM DURRANT • “Upending a whole system to protect one of your own laid the Government open to charges that it would just protect its friends.”– JILL RUTTER • “If the country is going to become carbon neutral then the countryside is going to have to become carbon negative” –  RICHARD BLACK Presented by Bronwen Maddox with Tom Sasse, Jill Rutter and Tim Durrant.  Audio production by Alex Rees. Inside Briefing is a Podmasters Production for the IfG.  https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices