Paterson uses European laws to sue British Government
OWEN PATERSON is suing the Government in the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) for a breach of his human rights over last year’s ruling by Parliament that he broke lobbying rules.
The Tory former Cabinet minister – who has previously called for the Human Rights Act to be repealed and for the UK to be “set free” from the ECHR – is arguing that the ruling infringed on his right to a family life.
Mr Paterson resigned as an MP last November after he was found to have broken lobbying rules by taking around half a million pounds from two companies and seeking to influence government policy. A six-week suspension from Parliament was recommended.
Boris Johnson, then Prime Minister, delayed a decision on the suspension by whipping Tory MPS to back the creation of a new committee to look at reforming the rules, including a new appeals process. However, in the face of a growing Tory rebellion and after Labour and the SNP had said they would not take part, it was announced that the idea would not be pursued.
When it became apparent that a fresh vote on his suspension could be called and that Downing Street would not tell Tories how to vote – an effective withdrawal of support – Mr Paterson resigned, but vowed to clear his name.
Mr Johnson’s handling of the saga – including his eleventh hour about-turn in the face of a revolt by MPS – was seen by many as the first in a series of events that led to his ousting as prime minister.
Mr Paterson is suing the Government in the ECHR, claiming that his Article 8 rights – which protect individual’s right to respect for their privacy and family life – were breached.
He says the finding that he breached Parliament’s code of conduct “damaged his good reputation” and that “the process by which the allegations against him were investigated and considered was not fair in many basic respects”.
Mr Paterson railed against the ECHR and the Human Rights Act in articles for the website Conservative Home in 2015. Downing Street said it could not comment on ongoing legal proceedings and Mr Paterson declined to comment.