Boris Johnson's handling of the Owen Paterson sleaze scandal was the 'kiss of death' for the Tories
The TelegraphOn Friday, Westminster woke up to a shock result in the North Shropshire by-election. The Liberal Democrats ran a tight campaign which had plenty of material to draw on: Covid chaos and uncertainty, the sleaze row surrounding the seat’s last MP Owen Paterson, and reports of Christmas parties in Downing Street during last year’s winter lockdown. “If had accepted his punishment, no one would have been bothered,” says Ray Thomas, 73, who sits drinking coffee with his little dog in the town’s covered market. He describes Paterson’s refusal to accept he did wrong, as well as the Prime Minister’s initial defence of him, as the “kiss of death” for the Conservatives in North Shropshire. “The Conservative candidate didn’t even live here, it looks arrogant.” Stokes was also disappointed by the Paterson lobbying scandal, as well as the Prime Minister’s immediate defence of his actions.
History of this topic
What did Owen Paterson do? Tory lobbying scandal explained
The Independent
Pressure on PM Johnson after UK Tories suffer election upset
Associated Press
Government botches U-turn on Owen Paterson sleaze scandal
The IndependentDiscover Related
